At least, 18 people, are confirmed dead with 30 others injured in what is being described as a suspected coordinated suicide attack in Gwoza, Borno state, about 160 kilometres away from the infamous Chibok town, where hundreds of schoolgirls were kidnapped 10 years ago.
Spokesman for the Borno state police command, Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirming the news, said “a woman carrying a baby on her back detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) she had on her at a crowded motor park at about 3:45pm, local time.”
The suicide bombers targeted a wedding ceremony, the burial ceremony for victims of the wedding venue attack and a hospital.
The first suicide bomber reportedly detonated an explosive device during a wedding ceremony, minutes later, another blast occurred near the General Hospital, and then there was a third attack at a funeral by a female bomber disguised as a mourner. Children and pregnant women were among those killed according to Barkindo Saidu, the director-general of Borno State Emergency Management Agency.
“I am now coordinating for a chopper tonight, I have mobilized emergency drugs to complement the shortage of drugs in Gwoza,” Saidu added.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of filing this report but Borno state have been heavily attacked by members of the Boko Haram sect for more than 10 years with incidents of similar suicide bombings, kidnap for ransom and other forms of attack.
Authorities remain on high alert and a curfew has been imposed on the town as another suspected bomber was reported in a town just a few kilometres from Gwoza.
