The House of Representatives on Tuesday alleged that the female suicide bombers responsible for the killing of scores in Borno State on Saturday were imported.
This assertion was made in a resolution following a motion of urgent national importance by Ahmed Jaha.
Jaha condemned the attack and stated that investigations revealed the bombers were “recruited, brainwashed, and imported from outside the state” to carry out the suicide mission in Gwoza, which resulted in over 30 deaths and more than 180 people critically injured.
The House urged security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Reacting to the incident, the Defence Headquarters described the bombings as indicative of Nigeria receding into a state of war.
In a statement, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, highlighted that the bombings were a response to the recent successes in military operations, which have weakened the terrorists’ capabilities.
Buba detailed the sequence of the attacks involving multiple Person Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (PBIEDs), commonly known as suicide bombings.
The first explosion occurred around 3:00 pm, when a female suicide bomber, disguised as a beggar, detonated an IED at a wedding reception on Mararaba Hausari Street. The second explosion, which happened around 5:00 pm, targeted the ongoing rescue operations from the first blast.
As troops enforced a curfew to prevent further casualties, a third explosion targeted them, resulting in the deaths of a soldier and two members of hybrid forces. A fourth attempt was thwarted when the bomber detonated the device prematurely, becoming the only casualty.
Overall, 20 persons were killed, and 52 sustained injuries. Buba emphasized the tragic loss of life and extended condolences on behalf of the Armed Forces.
He called on citizens to see through the terrorists’ attempts to project strength despite their decline and to remain vigilant and supportive of the military’s efforts.
The Defence Headquarters assured that the military would continue to pursue and eliminate the terrorists from the battlefield, aiming for a secure and peaceful future for all citizens.