An improvised explosive device (IED), believed to have been planted at a local bus stop yesterday morning, exploded in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State killing many passengers.
This was as it was gathered that the devastating incident which occurred at about 11:00am, also left many others at the scene of the blast seriously injured.
Confirming the incident, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, who confirmed the incident, said that those killed were mainly passengers waiting to board vehicles.
Describing the blast as “unfortunate” Lawan said that many of his constituents were killed in the blast from the planted IEDs while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village.
Lawan said; “May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for the swift recovery of those evacuated to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri for treatment following the incident”.
The Speaker said that Mairari village was the only village that was resettled two times, stressing that civil authority in the entire Guzamala Local Government Area, has once again been deserted due to attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP.
According to Lawan; “As resilient people, many of those taking refuge in Monguno, Guzamala, and Maiduguri often visit the Mairari community to engage in farming.
“Unfortunately, terrorists who have been monitoring their movements planted IEDs at the local bus stop, which exploded while they were waiting to board commercial vehicles to their destinations,” he said.
The Speaker while extending condolences to the families of the deceased and those who sustained varying degrees of injuries, appealed to the military and other security agencies to restore safety in Guzamala, especially in Gudumbali the headquarters of Mairari village, and surrounding areas.
He noted that Guzamala and Gudumbali villages have been deserted and presently under the control of Boko Haram control.