. Confirm four exploded Saturday, two arrested Sunday
…as military imposes curfew in LG headquarters
No fewer than 24 female suicide bombers are still on the prowl in Gwoza, Borno State, local authorities have cried out.
This is just as security forces arrested two female suicide bombers in connection with the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza.
Saturday’s multiple explosions killed at least 18 people dead.
Confirming this development to Channels Television, a local government official disclosed that a total of 30 female suicide bombers were sent into Gwoza to detonate Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) at different locations within the area.
But the source said only four suicide bombers have exploded so far.
She explained that one of the female bombers that came from Pulka Axis was responding to military interrogation at the checkpoint when she panicked and detonated the IED killing herself, the soldier and a civilian JTF member.
The women suicide bombers were said to have got into Gwoza from different locations, some from Pulka and others from the Mandara mountains.
Recent Deadliest Attack
Saturday’s attacks, one of the deadliest reported in the state in recent months, injured more than 30 persons. The degree of injuries ranges from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.
Director-General of the State Environmental Management Authority (SEMA), Barkindo Saidu, claimed to have witnessed the first blast.
He said, “In my presence, at about 3 pm, the first bomb blast in Gwoza occurred, detonated by a female suicide bomber in the midst of the marriage ceremony celebration,” he wrote in a situation report later in the day.
“It affected more than 30 persons with various levels of injuries and instant death. Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital.”
The wedding ceremony took place at Tashan Mararaba near the Fire Service in Gwoza town.
A survivor claimed that the first bomber was carrying a baby on her back when she stormed the venue and detonated the IED.
As people gathered to bury those killed at the wedding, Saidu said a third bomber, a lady, detonated another IED resulting in a lot of casualties.
While emergency officials were in the hospital coordinating the rescue mission, a fourth blast was set off by a female teenager.
“So far, 18 deaths comprise children, adult males, females, and pregnant women. 19 seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances,” Saidu said.
As of the time he released the situation report, he said 23 were waiting for military escort “in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic”.
The evacuation of the injured continued into the night on Saturday with the SEMA DG, who was in Gwoza when the attacks occurred, coordinating the process from there.
He also said he had received a report of a suspected suicide bomber in Pulka but did not provide further details about that.
Meanwhile, the military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA following the suicide attacks.
