A suspected bomb explosion, believed to have been planted by Boko Haram insurgents, claimed eight lives and left 21 others injured along the Maiduguri-Damboa highway on Saturday.
The attack, which has reignited fears of resurging insurgency in Borno State, occurred along a stretch of road that had been closed to vehicular movement for about a month—a window that may have been exploited by the attackers.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, confirmed the incident during a visit to the injured victims at the Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.
“It is regrettable that at a time we are working towards peace and recovery, such tragic events still occur,” Zulum said, visibly moved by the condition of the victims. “Since last year or so, we have not witnessed an improvised explosive device (IED) attack. Unfortunately, this road was closed for some time, and that may have given them the opportunity to plant the device.”
The governor condemned the attack in strong terms and expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.
He called for heightened vigilance from the military and other security agencies. “I urge the Nigerian military and other security agencies to beef up surveillance along the road so that such incidents do not happen again,” he stated.
Governor Zulum emphasized the Borno State government’s unwavering commitment to supporting all security agencies and local volunteers engaged in the fight against insurgency.
He noted that he had recently met with service chiefs in Abuja to raise concerns about what appears to be a resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the state.
“Our discussion during the security council was not bad; we just raised an alarm that Boko Haram activities are resurging in Borno State,” he said. “The state government, the military, and other stakeholders need to work together to avert the looming situation.”
Zulum added that federal authorities and military leaders gave assurances that all necessary steps would be taken to contain the threat.
The injured victims are currently receiving treatment, while security personnel have commenced investigations and intensified patrols in the affected area to forestall further attacks.
