Not fewer than 26 people, including women and children, lost their lives after vehicles travelling from Rann to Gamboru Ngala crossed planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday.
The incident occurred on Monday at 11:00 a.m. along the Furunduma axis, approximately 11 kilometres away from Rann, the Headquarters of the Kala-Balge Council Area, leaving a devastating toll on families.
According to local sources, among the dead were four women, six children, and more than a dozen young boys, highlighting once again how women and young lives continue to bear the brunt of violence in the region.
“A total of 26 persons lost their lives, including 16 men, four women, and six children.
“In addition, three women and unspecified numbers of children were injured in the blast,” an informed source told BusinessDay.
Another source said the wounded had been evacuated to Gamboru Ngala for further medical treatment, while the other two were receiving care at Rann General Hospital.
A Civilian Joint Task Force, who spoke anonymously, said more than 20 people instantly lost their lives due to the magnitude of the explosion.
As of the time of this report, the details of the actual death toll remained unclear since an official statement had not been released.
Meanwhile, Musibau Amuda, the Director of Personnel Management and Omoladun Elizabeth Arinde, the Legal Officer both from Oke-Ero Local Government Administration in Kwara State, reportedly kidnapped recently, have regained freedom.
James Fadipe, the Chairman of Oke-Ero local Government, stated this on Monday in a press statement, declaring that the officers returned safely in good health.
They were kidnapped while traveling from Iloffa Local Government to Ilorin, the State capital on Friday and the Police in the State confirmed that five armed men blocked the road around Eleyin village via Isanlu-Isin where they stopped two private vehicles and took away all the seven occupants of the vehicles whose identities were not disclosed.
The Local Government Chairman did not disclose how the officers were rescued but thanked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the leadership of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), security operatives, traditional rulers and religious leaders for their efforts in the return of the officers.
But, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Spokesperson of Kwara State Police Command, in a statement on Saturday, explained that while two victims had been rescued, Police were still carrying on with operations to rescue the remaining five victims and apprehend the abductors.
