Security operatives made steady progress on Sunday in their quest to prevent further destruction of lives and properties at different locations within Gworza after two female suicide bombers were arrested.
Eighteen people were sent to their graves on Saturday when four suicide bombers set off improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza, Borno State, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said.
Latest reports from Borno revealed that not less than 30 of the female suicide bombers were dispatched to Gwoza to wreak havoc with only four Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) detonated so far by the suicide bombers.
Authorities have since launched a massive manhunt for the remaining suicide bombers who might still be lurking around after sneaking into Gworza from Pulka and Mandara mountains.
An eyewitness explained that one of the female bombers from Pulka Axis was responding to military interrogation at the checkpoint when she panicked and detonated the IED killing herself, the soldier and a civilian JTF member.
The Director-General of SEMA, Barkindo Saidu, said he witnessed the first blast saying: “In my presence, at about 3 pm, the first bomb blast in Gwoza occurred, detonated by a female suicide bomber during a marriage ceremony celebration,” he wrote in a situation report later in the day.
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“It affected more than 30 persons with various levels of injuries and instant death. Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital,” he said
A survivor said the first bomber was carrying a baby on her back when she stormed the venue and detonated the IED.
As people gathered to bury those killed at the wedding, Saidu said a third bomber, a lady, detonated another IED with a lot of casualties with injuries ranging from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.
While emergency officials were in the hospital coordinating the rescue mission, a fourth blast was set off by a female teenager.
“So far, 18 deaths comprise children, adult males, females, and pregnant women. 19 seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances,” Saidu said.
He said 23 were waiting for military escort “in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic”.
The evacuation of the injured continued into the night with the SEMA DG, who was in Gwoza when the attacks occurred.
The military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA in the wake of the attacks.
Source: guardian.ng
