Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to note that the pushback successes the country recorded previously against Boko Haram terrorists are being cancelled.
Atiku Abubakar who was also the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in the last general elections in Nigeria stated this on Sunday while reacting to multiple female suicide bombers who detonated bombs at four different locations in Borno State on Saturday, killing scores of persons and injuring a lot of persons.
Atiku statement also contradicted the statement of President Bola Tinubu who had earlier said that the Saturday female suicide bombers incidents are indications that the government is mounting pressure on terrorists and achieving successes in degrading the capacity of the terrorists.
Atiku in a statemnt issued via his verified social media handles, said and in quote: “It is a sad development that the ugly incidents of terrorism are resurfacing and, indeed, metastasising in the North-East.
The reported attack by suicide bombers at a wedding reception, funeral procession, and a hospital on Saturday stands condemned.
It is unfortunate that much of the pushback that had been achieved against the Boko Haram terror sect are being cancelled, owing mainly to the government’s lacklustre posture to hold firmly on the frontline.
It is thus important to call on the federal authorities to wake up to their responsibility and to make sure that the North-East does not slide back into a theatre of terrorism and extreme violence.
My condolences go to the families of victims of these attacks, and it is my prayer that God grants a peaceful repose to the souls of the departed”.
We had earlier reported Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the Saturday suicide bomb blasts carried out by women in Borno State is an indication that the government is mounting pressure on terrorists and achieving success in degrading their capacity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated this on Sunday in a statement signed and made available by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
Separate suicide bombers detonated bombs at wedding ceremony and funeral event in Borno State, killing estimated number of 30 persons with more people still receiving treatment under critical conditions at various hospitals in the state.
The suicide bombers were women with one of them carrying a baby girl who died alongside with her after she detonated the bomb at a busy motor park at Mararaba T Junction in Gwoza, Borno State, killing people instantly and injuring many others.
The first bomb blast as we gathered occurred around 3pm in the midst of a wedding ceremony, few minutes later, another bomb blast occurred at General Hospital area in Gwoza, and in the midst of sorrow when people in the community gathered for funeral service, another female suicide bomber detonated another bomb.
Emergency rescue team said a lady also ran into Hospital where rescued victims were taken to, and detonated another bomb.
Director General of Borno State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr Barkindo Muhammad Saidu who visited the scene of the incident said 18 persons died in the bomb blast attacks with 48 persons seriously injured.
According to Arise TV news, “Tears flowed freely on Saturday as suicide bombers attacked funeral and wedding ceremonies in Gwoza, Borno State, with reports indicating up to 30 persons have been killed and injuries inflicted on over 100 others, in what seems like a return of suicide bombing in the state, the epicentre of violent Boko Haram attacks.
Gwoza, located in the southern part of the North-east state, was at a time the emirate headquarters of the insurgents, who at that time, killed the traditional ruler of the hilly town.
Suicide bombing by the insurgents had stopped until Saturday’s incidents, which have fuelled fears that the reign of terror might have returned.
Confirming the multiple attacks, the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Barkindo Saidu, said: “In my presence, at about exactly 3pm, the first bomb in Gwoza was detonated by a female suicide bomber in the midst of the marriage ceremony. It affected more than 30 persons with various levels of injuries and instant death.
“Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital.
“Again, at the funeral services (janaiza), another lady rushed into the congregation and detonated another bomb with a lot of casualties.
“When we were in the hospital coordinating the rescue mission, another one exploded from a female teenager.
“So far, 18 deaths comprising children, adult males, females, and pregnant women, have been recorded.
“Nineteen were seriously injured and were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances; 23 are waiting for military escort in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic.
“I am now coordinating for chopper tonight. I have mobilised emergency drugs to complement the shortage of drugs in Gwoza,” he added.
According to him, the degree of injuries ranges from abdominal raptures, skull fractures, to limb fractures.
Saidu added that he also received a report that there was a suspected suicide bomber in Pulka.
In his reaction, the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, also confirmed that the attacks were carried out at various locations, including wedding receptions and a burial ceremony in the town.
He said: “The entire Gwoza council area is in serious mourning following multiple suicide attacks on our community.
“The first suicide attack was masterminded by an unidentified woman who sneaked with two children into a wedding reception of a popular young man in Gwoza; she detonated her Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) killing herself and many people.
“Few minutes after, another suicide bomber sneaked into a burial ceremony at the nearby and detonated Improvised Explosive Devices, and as I am talking to you now, the third explosion just occurred few minutes ago with more casualties.
“At least, over 100 people were injured, and most of them who sustained serious injuries have been rushed to Maiduguri with military escort for proper medical attention.
“This is just a preliminary confirmation, as details of the casualties are still yet unknown, but I will keep you posted on any development.”
It is believed that the death toll might have risen to 30 deaths as the coordinated attacks which took place on Saturday afternoon caused pandemonium as people had to scamper for safety.
Reliable sources within Gwoza told journalists that: “More than 30 innocent civilians were killed with over 100 sustaining various degree of injuries, even as many of the victims have been evacuated to Maiduguri for medical attention”, Arise TV news report ends in quote.
According to State House Press Relase, “President Bola Tinubu strongly condemns the bomb attacks, which resulted in the loss of precious lives and the maiming of other citizens in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
President Tinubu describes the attacks as desperate acts of terror and a clear manifestation of the pressure mounted against terrorists and the success achieved in degrading their capacity to launch offensives.
The President declares that the purveyors of wanton violence shall have a certain encounter with justice, and that these cowardly attacks are only but an isolated episode as his government will not allow the nation to slither into an era of fear, tears, sorrow, and blood.
The President states that his administration is taking necessary measures to secure citizens, emphasizing that efforts will be redoubled to ensure that those who trouble the nation, dispatching precious lives, and disrupting law and order are completely removed.
President Tinubu condoles with the victims of the attacks, the families of the deceased, as well as the government and people of Borno State.”
Borno State Police Command had earlier confirmed that eight people were killed and fifteen others sustained various degrees of injuries following a bomb explosion in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police COmmand, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso stated that the tragic incident occurred on June 29, 2024, at approximately 15:40 hours.
“A woman carrying a baby detonated an Improvised Explosive Device IED at a busy motor park in Mararaba T Junction in Gwoza town.
The explosion claimed the lives of the woman, her baby, and six others, with fifteen individuals who sustained injuries currently receiving treatment at General Hospital Gwoza”, the police stated as reported by NTA news media.
Kenya President, William Ruto has returned the 2024 Finance Bill to the National Assembly for reconsideration. This was revealed in a letter signed by President Ruto and made availble on the President social media handles on Wednesday evening, day after several protesters were shot dead when they ran into the Parliament building in attempt to ... 
Money-Na-Water Celebrity barman, Pascal Okechukwu aka Cubana Chief who displayed wads of dollars on Tuesday at a carnival like wedding ceremony of Davido and Chioma tagged Chivido; has been set free by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State after he agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to pay the sum ... 
Kenya Medical Association has confirmed that more people are still being treated with serious gunshot injuries with 13 of them already pronounced dead. Simon Kigondu, president of the Kenya Medical Association, said that the figure of 13 deaths was “not the final number”. Recent video on Wednesday showed moment some of the protesters were being ... 
Not less than 19 persons have been confirmed dead when gunmen on Sunday engaged security operatives in a street gun battle after the gunmen attacked a church and a police post at Makhachkala and Derbent cities of Northern Caucasus region of Dagestan province in Russia. Reports also indicated that Russian military personnel later surrounded the gunmen ... 
About 16 persons have been reportedly found dead when lithium batteries at a warehouse in South Korea exploded on Monday morning. Some residents said similar incident had occurred the previous day Sunday with a massive fire at a battery recycling warehouse in Paisley Glasgow and some of the people claimed the fire outbreak at Paisley ... 
Men of the Nigeria anti-illicit-drugs police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have arrested two suspected persons in Edo State when the police operatives invaded the illicit-drugs shrine guarded by a big black snake at Egor Community in Egor Local Government Area in Benin Metropolis. NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi in a news statement on Sunday, ... 
Shortly after receiving new set of military helicopters, men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN has rescued children and women kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. The Nigerian Army authority in a statement on Friday, said, “in a series of coordinated counter-terrorism operations, troops deployed in the North East, in collaboration with ... 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli-Palestinian Affairs, Andrew Miller has resigned from President Joe Biden administration becoming almost 10 top US officials to have resigned since the Israeli war in Gaza city of Palestine began. Andrew Miller is reported to be a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He previously worked at ... 
Political crisis between the Nigeria Minister of FCT who is also the former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara may have resorted to street fighting and killings in the South South state shortly after the governor dissolved and put an end to the tenure of the local government chairmen in the ... 
Detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has called on all secessionist armed group operating either as Unknown Gunmen, Biafra Liberation Army or Biafra National Guard to stop killing soldiers in the Southeastern states of Nigeria, adding that, the killing of soldiers is producing young widows whom he learnt some ... 