Female suicide bomber with a baby wreaks havoc at Borno wedding

…Another detonates IED at funeral of victims

BY IDRIS AHMED

It has been a bloody weekend indeed as the joy at a wedding event has been cut short, following the dastardly act of a female suicide bomber, who despite carrying a baby unleashed mayhem at the venue by detonating bombs which exploded and killed at least seven people according to reports gathered by Sunday Times sources.

The incident which happened at Gwoza in Borno, sources gathered left everyone in a mournful and terrified mood. A source said: “At least seven people died in the process. Two suicide bombers detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at a wedding venue in Gwoza town, Borno State, killing some injuring many others.

The wedding was held on Saturday at Tashan Mararaba near the Fire Service in Gwoza town. The bomber was as a young mother in her twenties who pretended to be a guest at the wedding.

“But while trying to bury the dead persons, another bomber disguised as a mourner and detonated another IED at the burial ground, killing another person and injuring many.”

Borno State Commissioner of Police (CP), Yusuf Lawal, confirmed the attack saying that the attack was carried out by a female suicide bomber.

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Lawal said that he was informed by the Divisional Police Officer in Gwoza, that at least six people were killed with 15 others evacuated to the hospital.

An eye witness who identify himself as Buba, told the media that the suicide bomber targeted a wedding ceremony.

Muhammed Kasim, another witness said that the attack happened around 1:30 p.m.

“We heard a very loud sound of explosive, accompanied with dust; then we saw bodies on the ground.

He said that several victims were evacuated to the hospital while security agencies were deployed to sanitise the area.

This is coming on the heels of another terror attack in the city of Aba, Abia State, which targeted and killed two policemen at Opobo Junction barely 24 hours earlier.

Reacting to the Aba incident, the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, said he received with sadness the news of the killing of two police officers at Opobo Junction, Aba, on the evening of Friday, June 28, 2024, by yet to be identified criminals.

The Governor unequivocally condemned this horrible but unprovoked attack, which came almost a month after some innocent soldiers were killed by criminals at Obikabia Junction, which is less than a kilometer away from Opobo Junction.

The Governor’s condemnation was contained in release signed by his media and publicity adviser Ferdinand Ekeoma and made available to newsmen in Aba.

The release states, “Without doubt, these atrocious and reckless violent onslaughts against security agents in the state bear the imprimatur of a well sponsored act of terror geared towards spreading fear and confusion in the state, with a view to derailing the generally acclaimed progress being recorded in the state by the present government.

Our message is that, severe consequences await all perpetrators and enablers of terror in Abia State”.

“Having swung into action and apprehended some of the criminals directly involved in the killing of the five soldiers at Obikabia while investigation is still on-going to identify their allies and sponsors, our government will deploy the same energy and resources to ensure that those responsible for this latest killing are brought to justice”.

The Governor also warn, that his government will within the instruments of the law, bring to bear the full weight of government powers on any person, persons or organizations hiding under the umbrella of politics or opposition to incite or directly perpetrate violence against innocent citizens of the state.

He reassured Abians that the same courage and commitment with which his government destroyed the criminal architecture erected by kidnappers and other criminals at Lokpanta in Umunneochi and restored peace there, will be replicated to get rid of the criminal elements behind the recent attacks in Aba, and enjoined members of the public to contact the following number either by call or SMS: 07071902444 for any useful information that could lead to the apprehension of the killers of the Police Officers, or other criminals hiding in any part of the state.