According to Channels Television, Two female suicide bombers have been arrested in Borno State in connection with a series of explosions in Gwoza, local authorities confirmed on Sunday. The blasts resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people and injured more than 30.
A local government official told Channels Television that 30 female bombers were sent into Gwoza to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at various locations. To date, four of these bombers have successfully detonated their explosives.
One of the bombers, who came from the Pulka Axis, detonated her IED at a military checkpoint during interrogation, killing herself, a soldier, and a civilian Joint Task Force member.
The attackers entered Gwoza from different locations, including Pulka and the Andara mountains. This incident is one of the deadliest reported in Borno State in recent months, with injuries ranging from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.
The Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Barkindo Saidu, witnessed the first blast, which occurred at around 3 p.m. during a marriage ceremony celebration in Gwoza. The initial explosion resulted in multiple casualties and was followed by another blast near the General Hospital.
A survivor reported that the first bomber was carrying a baby when she detonated the IED. As people gathered to bury the wedding victims, a third bomber, a woman, detonated another explosive device, causing further casualties. While emergency responders were at the hospital, a fourth explosion was triggered by a teenage female bomber.
According to Saidu, 18 deaths have been confirmed, including children, adults, and pregnant women. Nineteen seriously injured individuals were transported to Maiduguri in four ambulances. Saidu also noted that 23 others were awaiting military escort at the Medical Regimental Services Clinic.