No fewer than nine people were killed in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists.
The victims were waiting at a bus-stop in Mairari Village when the incident happened.
Confirming the incident on Sunday, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, expressed deep sorrow over the killings.
Several villagers were injured in the explosion which occurred on Saturday at about 11am. The injured persons were later evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri for medical treatment.
Lawan also condoled with families of the deceased and those who sustained varying degrees of injuries from the blast.
He said, ”It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IED today (Saturday) while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village. May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for quick recovery to those who were evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri hospitals for treatment after the incident.
“You are aware that Mairari village which was hitherto the only village that was resettled two times with civil authority in the whole of Guzamala local government area has remained deserted again due to Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks. As resilient people, most of them who are taking refuge in Monguno, Guzamala and Maiduguri usually visits Mairari community and engaged in their farms.”
The Borno Assembly Speaker appealed to the military and other security agencies to intensify efforts to restore order in the area.
”I know that the newly deployed Theatre Commander of North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar and his troops are doing well in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP. Let me reiterate my appeal for the military to take over the entire Guzamala Local Government Area, which has remained under Boko Haram territory, so as to restore civil authority,” he said.
