•Corpse being carried away from the scene a bomb blast in Maiduguri on April 2018 .
The death toll from the suicide bombings in the Gwoza area of Borno has climbed to 18 from 8, an official has said.
Multiple explosions allegedly detonated by female suicide bombers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group shook Borno.
The police initially said six people were killed in the attacks but the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has now confirmed 18 deaths.
The Director-General of Borno SEMA, Barkindo Saidu, said in a situation report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria that the 18 dead were adult males, females and children.
He added that the first blast by a suicide bomber took place at a wedding ceremony, while the second blast occurred at the funeral service of victims when another female suicide bomber rushed into the congregation.
He said “19 people seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances, while 23 others are waiting for military escort in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic.
“I am now coordinating for a chopper tonight. I have mobilised emergency drugs to complement the shortage of drugs in Gwoza.
“The degree of injuries range from abdominal raptures, skull and limb fractures.
“I have also received a report that there is a suspected suicide bomber in Pulka,” Mr Saidu said.
Pulka is a village not too far from Gwoza town.
According to NAN’s reports, the coordinated attacks, which took many by surprise, were shocking to the people of Borno, who experienced such at the height of the insurgency between 2024 and 2014.
The Daily Crucible reported that a bomb explosion rocked the Gwoza area of Maiduguri, Borno State on Saturday, killing eight on the spot and injuring over a dozen others.
Shortly after, further explosions hit three other locations believed to be areas where the Boko Haram faction led by Ali Ngulde operates.
The group’s influence has been whittled down by its breakaway faction, Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), after the death of its leader, Abubakar Shekau.
The group under late Shekau had used female members and captives to carry out suicide bombing attacks.
