By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Relatives of victims of suicide bombings in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State have narrated harrowing experiences of how they lost their loved ones on Saturday.
Many people, including a soldier, and some wedding guests were killed, and several others injured when four suicide bombers launched attacks at different spots in Gwoza and Pulka towns, all in Gwoza LGA.
The Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Barkindo M. Saidu, shortly after the incidents, said 18 persons comprising children, adult male, females, and pregnant women died, while 19 others who were seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances.
Gwoza, located in the fringes of the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, which serves as sanctuaries for Boko Haram fighters, had suffered devastating attacks in the nearly fifteen years of the insurgency.
Hundreds of people have been killed, many injured and houses, markets, hospitals, police stations and other symbols of authority destroyed.
Incidents of suicide bombing have not been reported for a long time, until Saturday’s resurgence.
Meanwhile, many are in the state specialist hospital in Maiduguri where the wounded are currently receiving treatment.
He said the atmosphere at the hospital was tense as relatives who besieged the facility to see the wounded shared their disturbing experiences.