• House claims attackers were imported
• NUJ boss alerts journalists on Gwoza attacks
Three days after the serial suicide bombings at Gwoza, Borno State, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), for the first time, has spoken on the incident officially.
It said 20 persons were killed and 52 injured.
On its part, the House of Representatives claimed that the female suicide bombers were imported.
To protect newsmen from bombers, Plateau State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ayuku Pwaspo, advised journalists to be careful of their movements and places of coverage.
The spokesman for Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj-Gen Edward Buba, said troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North East theatre recorded a series of reprehensible terror attacks in Gworza.
He noted that the coordinated attacks comprised multiple Person-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (PBIEDs).
“All the attacks took place on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The first was recorded about 3.00pm, when a female suicide bomber, disguised as a beggar, invaded a wedding reception at Mararaba Hausari Street and detonated an IED. About 5.00pm, while efforts were on to stabilise and move casualties of the initial explosion to the hospital for further treatment, there was a second detonation from another female suicide bomber on the same street and close to the first explosion.
“Troops immediately imposed a curfew on the community to get members of the community indoors and prevent further casualties. However, while troops and hybrid forces were enforcing the curfew, a third explosion was recorded, targeting the troops enforcing the curfew. The explosion killed a soldier and two members of hybrid forces,” Buba said.
He added that the fourth incident was averted when the suspect was identified and she detonated the bomb prematurely and became the only casualty .
According to him, on the whole, 20 persons were killed while 52, who sustained injuries, are receiving treatment.
THE lawmakers made the claim, yesterday, after considering a motion of urgent national importance by the member representing Gwoza/Chibok/Damboa federal constituency, Ahmed Jaha.
While condemning the attack, Jaha stated that findings showed that bombers were “recruited, brainwashed and imported from outside the state” to carry out the attack that reportedly claimed over 30 lives.
Jaha argued that the bombings underscored the ongoing threat of terrorism in the country while informing the house that more than 180 people were critically injured.
The House then urged security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent recurrence.
PWASPO’S advice came on the heels of the suicide bombing in Gwoza.
A member of the NUJ, Ladi Emmanuel, who attended the congress, had earlier briefed the chairman that there were sporadic gunshots yesterday around 7.30am close to where she slept.
But security personnel said that they were alerted after the harmless incidents, adding that they had taken care of the area.
The NUJ boss also invited a medical practitioner from the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Anna Gyang, who talked on ‘Journalists and Mental Health’, stressing that journalists had been exposed to traumatic mental health problems.
According to her, newsmen are stubbornly brave; even unarmed, they move about to get the right information for the public.