At least nine passengers have been confirmed killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to have been planted at a local bus stop in Mairari village of Guzamala local government area of Borno State.
The incident, which took place around 11 am Saturday, also left scores injured. The victims were later evacuated to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri.
Mairari village, situated along a main road, is about an 18km drive from Monguno local government area and 119km away from Maiduguri, the state capital.
The agrarian village, which has been dislodged and resettled two times, is now a ghost community due to intensive and renewed Boko Haram attacks.
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The villagers are mostly resilient farmers who relocated to nearby Monguno and Gajiram towns for safety, and usually shuttle between the communities to engage in their farming and hunting during the day.
Thereafter, they will gather at a specific bus stop in Mairari to board commercial vehicles to Monguno, Gajiram or Maiduguri after the exercise on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, some terrorists went and planted an IED at the usual bus stop, which exploded and wreaked havoc.
Abdulkarim Lawan, the speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, on Sunday morning expressed deep shock over the bomb blasts on Saturday morning.
Lawan, who confirmed the incident, also condoled with the families of the deceased and those who sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs today 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,” Lawan told newsmen.
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He prayed to Allah to grant Aljanatul Firdaus to the souls of the deceased and wished the injured ones a quick recovery.
Lawan reiterated his call, appealing to the military and other security agencies to recapture the entire Guzamala, especially Gudumbali, the Council Headquarters, Mairari village, and its environs, which have been deserted and under the control of Boko Haram without civil authority for many years.
“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,” he said.
“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”.
