Over nine people have been killed and scores injured after an explosion rocked a busy bus stop in Mairari village, located in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The bomb blast, which occurred around 11am on Saturday, was reportedly triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) believed to have been planted by terrorists targeting commuters.
The unfortunate incident was confirmed by the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan.
He said the attack claimed the lives of nine residents.
“It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village,” Lawan said.
“May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for the swift recovery of those currently receiving treatment in hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri.”
Lawan condemned the resurgence of attacks in the area, noting that Mairari had previously been resettled twice and remained the only part of Guzamala under full civil authority before being deserted again due to renewed hostilities linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
He added that many displaced residents had been returning to Mairari intermittently for farming activities.
“Unfortunately, terrorists monitoring their movements planted IEDs at the local bus stop, which exploded while they were waiting to board commercial vehicles back to their destinations,” he narrated.
The Speaker expressed sympathy to the victims’ families and urged the military and other security operatives to strengthen their presence in Guzamala, particularly in the council’s headquarters, Gudumbali, and in Mairari areas he described as lacking any civil governance due to terrorist control.
