Two Female Suicide Bombers Arrested After Deadly Borno Blast

Two female suicide bombers have been arrested following explosions in Gwoza that left at least 18 people dead. Local authorities reported that 30 female bombers were sent into the area with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), targeting different locations.

A government official confirmed that only four of these bombers successfully detonated their devices. One of the attackers, coming from the Pulka Axis, panicked during military questioning at a checkpoint and detonated her device, killing herself, a soldier, and a member of the civilian Joint Task Force.

The attackers reportedly entered Gwoza from various directions, including Pulka and the Mandara mountains. This incident is one of the deadliest attacks in the state in recent months, injuring over 30 people. Victims suffered severe injuries, ranging from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.

Barkindo Saidu, Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), witnessed the first blast during a wedding celebration at Tashan Mararaba near the Fire Service in Gwoza. He described the chaos as a female bomber, carrying a baby on her back, detonated an IED among the guests, causing numerous casualties.

As the community gathered to mourn the victims, another bomber struck, resulting in further deaths and injuries. While emergency personnel were coordinating rescue efforts at the hospital, a fourth explosion occurred, set off by a teenage girl.

So far, 18 fatalities have been confirmed, including children, adults, and pregnant women. Nineteen severely injured individuals were transported to Maiduguri for treatment. At the time of the report, 23 additional victims were awaiting military escort at the Medical Regimental Services Clinic.

Evacuation efforts continued throughout the night, with Barkindo Saidu leading the response on the ground in Gwoza. Additionally, there were reports of another suspected suicide bomber in Pulka, though further details were not provided.

In response to the attacks, the military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza Local Government Area as investigations continue and authorities work to prevent further incidents.