Authorities report that suspected female suicide bombers have killed at least 18 people in Nigeria. Learn more about this tragic incident.

On Saturday, June 29, suicide bombers in Gwoza, northeastern Nigeria, carried out a series of attacks resulting in the deaths of at least 18 individuals, as reported by Barkindo Saidu, the director-general of Borno State Emergency Management Agency.

The first explosion took place during a wedding celebration around 3 p.m., followed by another blast near General Hospital, and a third attack at a funeral service where a female bomber, disguised as a mourner, detonated an explosive device.

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Among the victims were adult men, women, children, as well as pregnant women, as confirmed by a local radio station. The attacks have not been claimed by any group, but Gwoza’s location in Borno state, heavily affected by the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009, raises suspicions.

Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group, has been known to use women and girls in suicide bombings, leading to concerns that some of the kidnapped individuals over the years may have been involved in these attacks. The resurgence of suicide bombings in Borno highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region.