At least nine people are feared dead following the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) at a local bus stop in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The tragic incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and reportedly left several others injured, with victims rushed to medical facilities in Monguno and Maiduguri for treatment.
Confirming the development on Sunday, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, revealed that the victims were passengers waiting to board vehicles when the IED exploded.
“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. May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for the swift recovery of those evacuated to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri,” he stated.
Lawan explained that Mairari village had previously been resettled twice with civil authority but had once again been abandoned due to persistent Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks. Despite this, displaced residents often return from Monguno, Maiduguri, and other areas to farm in the community.
“Unfortunately, terrorists who have been monitoring their movement planted IEDs at the local bus stop, which detonated as they waited to return to their destinations,” he added.
The Speaker extended condolences to the families of the victims and those injured, calling for urgent military intervention to restore security in Guzamala, particularly in Gudumbali—the council headquarters—as well as Mairari and other surrounding communities. These areas, he noted, remain without civil authority and have been under Boko Haram control for years.
ADEOLA KUNLE
