Gwoza, Nigeria — A tragic series of suicide bombings on Saturday in Gwoza, in Borno State’s Gwoza local government area, has left 18 people dead and 19 others injured, according to the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA). The bombings, which targeted a wedding ceremony, a funeral service, and a hospital, are a brutal reminder of the region’s ongoing struggle with insurgent violence.
Initially, police reports confirmed eight fatalities and 15 injuries shortly after the attacks. However, Dr. Barkindo Saidu, Director General of BOSEMA, later updated these figures following further casualties overnight, indicating a distressing rise in both deaths and injuries.
The first attack occurred around 3 p.m. at a local wedding ceremony, where a female suicide bomber detonated an explosive device among the attendees. Dr. Saidu noted the immediate chaos and casualties following the explosion, with more than 30 people affected.
Minutes later, another explosion rocked the vicinity of Gwoza’s General Hospital, exacerbating the already dire situation. During a funeral held for victims of the earlier attacks, yet another bomber struck, causing further deaths and injuries.
“Multiple bomb blasts in such quick succession have overwhelmed local medical facilities and emergency services,” Dr. Saidu explained. “We have transported the seriously wounded to larger hospitals in Maiduguri to cope with the severe injuries, which range from skull and limb fractures to abdominal ruptures.”
In a desperate bid to manage the crisis, BOSEMA coordinated the transfer of the injured using four ambulances and awaited military escorts for others in need of immediate medical care at the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic. Efforts were also underway to facilitate airlifts for critical cases and to bring in additional medical supplies to Gwoza.
“There’s also an unconfirmed report of another potential bomber in Pulka, which we are currently investigating,” Dr. Saidu added, highlighting the tense and precarious security situation in the region.
Local sources, fearing the death toll might rise, revealed the immense scale of injuries inflicted. There are also claims that over 25 bodies were recovered from the three incident sites before military interventions, including the imposition of a curfew by dusk, which restricted further movement and likely prevented additional casualties.
Gwoza has previously been at the heart of the insurgency led by Boko Haram terrorists, who had seized control of the area and declared it a caliphate. The town was a major battleground until Nigerian military forces reclaimed it, though the scars of conflict remain evident and the threat of violence persists.
For residents of Gwooyza and the surrounding areas, the recurrence of such attacks continues to be a stark reminder of the fragile security situation, despite ongoing efforts to restore peace and normalcy.