At least 18 dead in series of explosions – DW – 30.06.2024

At least 18 people were killed and several others injured in a series of explosions in Borno state in northeastern Nigeria on Saturday, according to Nigerian emergency services.

In one of the three attacks, a woman with a baby tied to her back detonated explosives at a wedding in the town of Gwoza near Cameroon, the AFP news agency reported, citing authorities.

A second explosion occurred at a hospital in the same city, and later that day another attack occurred at the funeral of the wedding blast victims, authorities said.

“There have been 18 deaths so far, including children, men, women and pregnant women. The severity of injuries ranges from abdominal ruptures to skull fractures and limb fractures,” Barkindo Saidu, head of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said in a statement.

Authorities said 19 other people were seriously injured and others suffered minor injuries.

Threat from Boko Haram fighters

The town of Gwoza was captured by Boko Haram fighters in 2014. The Nigerian military was able to recapture it with the help of Chadian troops, but it has been attacked several times since then.

At the centre of the crisis was Borno State. Boko Haram and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) were the most active in the region.

Boko Haram has raided numerous towns in the northeastern region, kidnapping or killing thousands and displacing about two million. Although their power has been curbed by the military, they continue to carry out attacks on civilians.

Niger, Cameroon and Chad are also affected by the crisis and the countries have formed a military alliance to fight the extremist group.

tg/rm (AFP, Reuters)