Many passengers have reportedly lost their lives following a deadly explosion at a village bus stop in Borno State on Sunday morning.
The incident took place in Mairari village, located in Guzamala Local Government Area, and is believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED).
According to information gathered by this reporter, the blast occurred around 11 a.m., just as passengers were preparing to board commercial vehicles. The explosion resulted in several deaths and left many others seriously wounded.
Emergency responders and local residents rushed to assist the injured, who were later transported to medical facilities in Monguno and Maiduguri.
Confirming the tragic event, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, said the victims were mostly locals who had returned to the village temporarily.
“It is unfortunate that many of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village.
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,” he said.
Lawan noted that Mairari had been previously resettled after earlier attacks by insurgents but has once again been left empty due to continued threats from Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
“You are aware that Mairari village, which was previously the only village resettled twice with civil authority in the entire Guzamala Local Government Area, has once again been deserted due to Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks.
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 back to their destinations,” he narrated.
He also sent his condolences to the families affected and called for more action to secure the region.
Lawan further urged the Nigerian military and other security forces to increase their presence in Guzamala, especially in Gudumbali, the local government headquarters, and surrounding villages. He noted that several parts of the region have remained under the control of insurgents for years without any civil authority.
