KANO, Nigeria: A series of devastating suicide attacks struck northeastern Nigeria’s town of Gwoza, resulting in at least 18 deaths and 42 injuries, with 19 people critically wounded.
The attacks targeted a wedding ceremony, a hospital, and a funeral, underscoring the tragic toll on civilians. The first explosion occurred when a female assailant with a baby strapped to her detonated explosives at the wedding, followed by assaults on a hospital and a funeral procession.
Barkindo Saidu, head of Borno State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the casualties, including children, men, women, and pregnant victims. The violence also claimed the lives of two militia members and a soldier at a security post, highlighting ongoing security challenges despite efforts to reclaim Gwoza from Boko Haram in 2015.
Since seizing Gwoza in 2014, Boko Haram has persisted in launching attacks from nearby mountains, terrorizing locals who risk abduction while collecting firewood or fruits. The insurgency has devastated northeastern Nigeria, resulting in over 40,000 deaths and displacing around two million people. The conflict has spilled across borders into Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, prompting a regional military coalition to combat the militants.
