At least 30 people, including women and children, lost their lives on Monday morning when a bus ran over an explosive device believed to have been planted by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
The tragic incident occurred about eleven kilometers from Rann, near the border area and the fringes of Lake Chad, as vehicles made their way to Gamboru Ngala. According to members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), the explosion killed at least four women, six children, and several men, all of whom were commuters.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and devastation, with survivors rushing to help the wounded before emergency services arrived. Three people-a child, a woman, and a man-were among the injured and were quickly evacuated to medical facilities in Gamboru Ngala and Rann for urgent treatment.
The attack is part of a wave of violence in Borno State. On the same day, Boko Haram gunmen targeted a community in Chibok during a prayer gathering, killing at least 14 people and setting houses ablaze. Just days earlier, 14 farmers and two Civilian JTF members were killed in border communities in Gwoza, and 10 Civilian JTF members lost their lives in an ambush along the Hawul-Garkida axis.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, speaking during a federal government delegation’s visit, expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s porous borders, which he said enable terrorists to regroup and launch attacks. “Until our borders are properly secured, our communities remain at risk,” Zulum warned.
These attacks highlights the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria, despite ongoing military efforts to restore peace to the region.
“We are calling on the government to do more to protect our people and secure our roads,” said a local resident, reflecting the fears and frustrations of many in Borno.
Authorities have promised to intensify security patrols and provide support to victims’ families as investigations continue.
