Maiduguri, Nigeria – A wave of violence ripped through Nigeria’s Borno state on Saturday, as suspected female suicide bombers targeted a wedding, funeral, and hospital, killing at least 18 people and injuring 30 others.
The attacks, which took place in the town of Gwoza, underscored the ongoing threat posed by Islamist militants in the region. Borno has been the epicenter of a brutal insurgency for the past 15 years, led by Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Though the Nigerian military has weakened these militant groups, they retain the capability to launch deadly attacks on civilians and security forces.
Barkindo Saidu, head of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the death toll, which included children, adults, and pregnant women. The attacks also left many wounded with serious injuries, including abdominal ruptures, skull fractures, and broken limbs.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Boko Haram and ISWAP are the primary suspects, given their history of violence in the region. Both groups operate in the vast rural expanse of Borno, a territory roughly the size of Ireland.
The Nigerian government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice and continues its efforts to quell the insurgency.
