A deadly explosion at a local bus stop has claimed the lives of nine people and left several others injured. The blast, caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday as passengers waited to board commercial vehicles.
The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, confirmed the tragedy, describing it as a heartbreaking loss for his resilient constituents. “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,” he said. He extended prayers for the victims’ souls and wished a swift recovery for those hospitalized in Monguno and Maiduguri.
Mairari village, unique in Guzamala for having been resettled twice under full civil authority, has once again been deserted due to renewed Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgent activities. Many displaced residents, who now take refuge in Monguno, Guzamala, and Maiduguri, often return to Mairari to farm. Terrorists, monitoring these movements, planted the IED at the bus stop, targeting civilians.
The Speaker appealed to the military and security agencies to intensify efforts to restore peace in Guzamala, particularly in areas long under insurgent control such as Gudumbali and Mairari village.
This attack adds to a series of violent incidents in the region, including a recent ambush in Marte where nine Civilian Joint Task Force members were killed during clashes with insurgents.
Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of terror” against innocent citizens and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing security across the state.
Security agencies have launched investigations and a manhunt for those responsible as the community mourns and the injured receive medical care.
