The United Nations and the United States of America, on Sunday, condemned Saturday bomb attacks in Tashan Mararaba, Gwoza town, Borno State, claiming the lives of at least 18 persons.
The attacks, carried out by suspected female suicide bombers, struck a wedding, a hospital, and a funeral in Gwoza, a town near the border with Cameroon.
According to the Borno State Police Command spokesman, Nahum Daso, on Sunday, three blasts took place on Saturday in Gwoza.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement on Sunday by the Presidency, said his administration would redouble its efforts “to ensure that those who trouble the nation, dispatching precious lives, and disrupting law and order are completely removed.”
A security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, told PUNCH Online that the bomber, later identified as a young lady in her early twenties, detonated her explosive device in the middle of the gathering, causing chaos and destruction.
Intelligence sources told Makama that the victims, who were all civilians, were returning from a wedding celebration when the attack occurred near a busy motorpark.
Emergency services rushed to the scene to rescue those injured and transport them to the hospitals in Gwoza.
Saturday’s bomb attack is the first in years since Boko Haram began bombing raids across the country in 2009.
Notable among such raids was the bombing of the United Nations building in 2010 and the busy Nyanya motor park both in Abuja, in 2014.
President Tinubu strongly condemned the bomb attacks, describing them as “desperate acts of terror and a clear manifestation of the pressure mounted against terrorists and the success achieved in degrading their capacity to launch offensives.”
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu said the purveyors of wanton violence “shall have a certain encounter with justice.”
He said the “cowardly attacks” were an isolated episode vowing that his government “will not allow the nation to slither into an era of fear, tears, sorrow, and blood.”
In the statement titled, ‘President Tinubu condemns bomb attacks in Borno State, says purveyors of terror will pay a heavy price,’ Tinubu said his administration was taking necessary measures to secure citizens.
He condoled with the victims of the attacks, the families of the deceased, as well as the government and people of Borno State.
US, UN condemn attacks
The United States Mission in Nigeria condemned the suicide bomb attacks that targeted civilian populations in Gwoza, a Local Government Area of Borno State.
Reacting in a post on its official X.com account on Sunday, @USinNigeria, the mission said the violence showed cruel disregard for human lives, noting it would be working with Nigeria to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice.
The mission wrote: “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific attacks that took place in Gwoza, Borno State on June 29. These reprehensible acts of violence show a cruel and heartless disregard for human life. We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wish a full recovery to the injured.
“These abhorrent attacks are a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by terrorism in the region. The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is committed to our partnership with Nigeria as it works to defeat terrorism and bring the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice.”
Also, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, in a statement on Sunday, expressed his horror and condemnation of the attacks in the strongest terms.
“I am horrified by this attack on civilian populations and condemn such acts in the strongest terms. I stand in solidarity with the Government of Nigeria and the families and communities of all those affected,” Fall stated.
Fall also reminded all parties involved in the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm.
He emphasised the United Nations’ commitment to supporting the victims of the attacks and conveyed his condolences to the Borno State Government.
“I have reached out to the Borno State Government to express my condolences and offer any support that the United Nations and the humanitarian community can provide to aid the victims of the attack,” he added.
Northern govs urge collective resilience
The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, called for collective resilience against terrorism as they sympathised with victims, government and people of Borno State over the Gworza bombings.
Describing the attack as cowardly, Yahaya emphasised that such acts of terror had no place in a peaceful and progressive society.
“These cowardly attacks by bloodthirsty terrorists will never break the spirit of the peace-loving people of Northern Nigeria and our great nation,” he declared.
Yahaya acknowledged the relentless efforts of the Tinubu administration in combating terrorism and the pressure being mounted against the criminal elements.
He expressed his firm belief that with sustained efforts and cooperation among security agencies, the menace of terrorism would be effectively curtailed.
“We must ensure that our security apparatus is always a step ahead of these terrorists. Enhanced intelligence and proactive measures are vital in preventing such tragic incidents,” he stated.
The governor also commended the Borno State Government for its swift response and measures taken to stabilise the situation and reassure the affected communities.
“Governor Babagana Zulum and his administration have shown exemplary leadership in the face of this tragedy. Their prompt actions have helped in calming the situation and providing immediate relief to the victims,” he said.
Yahaya called for collective resilience and unity among the people of Northern Nigeria, saying “We must stand together, undeterred by these acts of terror. Our unity and resolve will ultimately defeat the forces of darkness and ensure lasting peace and security in our region”.
The NSGF Chairman reassured the victims and their families of the support and solidarity of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, stating that “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. The NSGF stands united in solidarity with you and remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure peace and stability prevail across the region and the nation in general.”
Also, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, expressed concerns over the incidents of terrorism resurfacing in the North-East.
In a statement on Sunday issued via his X handle, Atiku said the suicide attacks in Borno were sad, condemnable and worrisome.
He wrote, “It is a sad development that the ugly incidents of terrorism are resurfacing and, indeed, metastasising in the North-East.
“The reported attack by suicide bombers at a wedding reception, funeral procession, and a hospital on Saturday stands condemned.
“It is unfortunate that much of the pushback that had been achieved against the Boko Haram terror sect is being cancelled, owing mainly to the government’s lacklustre posture to hold firmly on the frontline.”
Atiku, therefore, asked the Federal Government to ensure that the North-East did not slide back into the hands of terrorists and become the theatre of extreme violence.
He added, “It is thus important to call on the federal authorities to wake up to their responsibility and to make sure that the North-East does not slide back into a theatre of terrorism and extreme violence.
“My condolences go to the families of victims of these attacks, and it is my prayer that God grants a peaceful repose to the souls of the departed.”
