US, Tinubu Condemn ‘Horrific’ Borno Blasts, Mourn Lives Lost

President Bola Tinubu has expressed strong condemnation for the suicide bomb blast that occurred in Borno State on Saturday, labeling it as a desperate act of terror.

The incident resulted in the tragic loss of 18 lives due to the detonation of improvised explosive devices by four suicide bombers in Gwoza, a state in the North-Eastern region.

Following the attack, the Presidency released a statement extending sympathies to the affected families and the Borno State Government. In a separate statement issued on Sunday, presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale conveyed the President’s message of condolence, emphasizing Tinubu’s stance on the attacks as acts of terror and a reflection of the pressure faced by terrorists amidst the success achieved in degrading their offensive capabilities.

Tinubu reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for the perpetrators of violence and preventing the nation from descending into a state of fear and chaos. The Commander-in-Chief affirmed the administration’s dedication to enhancing security measures to safeguard citizens and eliminate threats to peace and order. Similarly, the United States Government also denounced the attack in Gwoza, describing it as a horrific and reprehensible act of violence that demonstrates a cruel disregard for human life.

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The U.S. Mission extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, emphasizing the urgent need to address the persistent threat of terrorism in the region.

The commitment of the Mission to work together with the Nigerian government to combat terrorism and ensure that those responsible for these atrocious acts are brought to justice was once again emphasized. Saturday’s attack, which resulted in one of the highest death tolls reported in the state in recent months, left over 30 individuals injured. The injuries sustained varied from abdominal ruptures to fractures of the skull and limbs.

Barkindo Saidu, the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), recounted witnessing the initial explosion. He detailed the first bomb blast that took place in Gwoza during a wedding celebration, detonated by a female suicide bomber. The incident caused injuries and fatalities to more than 30 individuals. Shortly after, another explosion occurred near the General Hospital in the area.

The wedding ceremony took place at Tashan Mararaba, close to the Fire Service in Gwoza town. Following the attacks, the military has implemented a curfew in Gwoza Local Government Area to maintain security and order in the region.