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    Deadly Blasts in Nigeria: 18 Killed, 30 Injured in Suspected Suicide Bombings

    Updated: World News 4 Mins Read

    The fanatics are at it again in Nigeria.

    At least 18 people lost their lives and 30 were injured in a series of tragic explosions in Nigeria, believed to have been carried out by female suicide bombers. One of these devastating blasts occurred during a wedding ceremony on Saturday in Borno state, resulting in six fatalities and numerous injuries.

    The state’s emergency management agency reported that the coordinated assaults targeted a wedding, the subsequent funeral of the victims, and a hospital in the town of Gwoza. President Bola Tinubu strongly condemned these attacks, describing them as “desperate acts of terror” in a statement shared via his media aide on Facebook. He promised decisive action against those responsible and emphasized that these incidents would not undermine the recent progress made against jihadist groups.

    “The president declares that the purveyors of wanton violence shall have a certain encounter with justice, and that these cowardly attacks are only but an isolated episode as his government will not allow the nation to slither into an era of fear, tears, sorrow, and blood,” the statement read.

    Although no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is based in Nigeria, has a history of carrying out deadly bombings in Borno. Over the past four months, the region has seen repeated attacks involving suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.

    Borno state has been the epicenter of a 15-year-long insurgency led by Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group that has caused the displacement of over two million people and claimed more than 40,000 lives. Boko Haram gained international infamy in 2014 after abducting over 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, also located in Borno state.

    Local authorities confirmed 18 deaths from the Saturday attacks, including children, adults, and pregnant women. Some local media outlets have reported a higher death toll, with figures suggesting that at least 30 people may have been killed in the blasts.

    In response to the violence, the military has imposed a curfew in the affected area. Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the attacks on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling for an end to violence against civilians in Borno. “These deplorable attacks that took place at a time people were mourning demonstrate complete disregard for human life,” the organization stated.

    Gwoza, the town affected by the recent attacks, was overtaken by Boko Haram in 2014 and later reclaimed by Nigerian forces in 2015. However, the group has continued to conduct attacks and kidnappings in the vicinity. In November of last year, Boko Haram insurgents killed 20 people returning from a funeral in neighboring Yobe state, just a day after militants killed 17 individuals in a raid on Gurokayeya village for refusing to pay a so-called harvest tax, according to police reports.

    Major Points:

    • At least 18 people were killed and 30 injured in a series of explosions in Nigeria, likely carried out by female suicide bombers.
    • The coordinated attacks targeted a wedding, a subsequent funeral, and a hospital in the town of Gwoza, Borno state.
    • President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks, vowing decisive action against those responsible and reaffirming recent gains against jihadist groups.
    • The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is suspected to be behind the attacks, continuing the region’s 15-year insurgency by Boko Haram.
    • Local authorities and Amnesty International called for an end to civilian attacks, with a curfew imposed by the military in response to the violence.

    Kirk Volo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News

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