Two female suicide bombers have been arrested in Borno State, in connection with the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza, authorities said on Sunday.

The explosion left at least 18 people dead

A local government official who confirmed this to Channels Television said 30 of the female suicide bombers were sent into Gwoza to detonate the Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) at different locations within the area.

According to the source, only four suicide bombers exploded so far.

She explained that one of the female bombers that came from Pulka Axis was responding to military interrogation at the checkpoint when she panicked and detonated the IED killing herself, the soldier and a civilian JTF member.

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It was gathered that the women got into Gwoza from different locations, some from Pulka and others from the Mandara mountains.

Recent Deadliest Attack
The attack, one of the deadliest reported in the state in recent months, injured more than 30 persons. The degree of injuries ranges from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.

The Director-General of SEMA, Barkindo Saidu, said he witnessed the first blast.

“In my presence, at about 3 pm, the first bomb blast in Gwoza occurred, detonated by a female suicide bomber in the midst of the marriage ceremony celebration,” he wrote in a situation report later in the day.

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“It affected more than 30 persons with various levels of injuries and instant death. Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital.”

The wedding was held at Tashan Mararaba near the Fire Service in Gwoza town.

A survivor said the first bomber was carrying a baby on her back when she stormed the venue and detonated the IED.

As people gathered to bury those killed at the wedding, Saidu said a third bomber, a lady, detonated another IED with a lot of casualties.

While emergency officials were in the hospital coordinating the rescue mission, a fourth blast was set off by a female teenager.

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“So far, 18 deaths comprise children, adult males, females, and pregnant women. 19 seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances,” Saidu said.

At the time he released the situation report, he said 23 were waiting for military escort “in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic”.

The evacuation of the injured continued into the night with the SEMA DG, who was in Gwoza when the attacks occurred, coordinating the process from there.

He also said he had received a report of a suspected suicide bomber in Pulka but did not provide further details about that.

The military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA in the wake of the attacks.

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested six members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ites, in Abuja during a pro-Palestine demonstration.

The protesters, including Ishaq Haruna, Nura Attahir, Ali Muhammad, Abba Abdulkareem, and Abubakar Hamidu, were detained at the SARS Police Detention Facility in Garki, Abuja.

According to eyewitnesses, the police used force to disperse the protesters, who were gathered at the National Mosque in Abuja to show solidarity with Palestine.

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In a statement on Sunday, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, led by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, condemned the arrest and detention of the protesters, demanding their unconditional release.

Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara Sokoto, signed the statement on behalf of the Islamic Movement, urging the immediate release of the detainees.

He said, “The police are supposed to be for the preservation of law and order. Yet, they continue to arrest and detain free Palestine protesters. This raises questions about whether the Nigerian Police are working for Nigeria or Israel, or if there are Israeli agents in the Nigerian Police promoting Israel’s interests and supporting the massacre in Palestine.

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“We condemn the unlawful abduction and detention of Yahuza Haruna Masaka, Ishaq Haruna, Nura Attahir, Ali Muhammad, Abba Abdulkareem, and Abubakar Hamidu by the FCT Police. We demand their unconditional release.

“The Nigerian government supports the creation of the State of Palestine, and there is a Palestinian Ambassador in Nigeria and a Nigerian Ambassador to Palestine based in Egypt. Recently, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that there is no justification for the carnage in Palestine.

“We urge the police to release the detained protesters and stop supporting Israel’s interests. We also call on the Nigerian government to uphold its commitment to the Palestinian cause and stop the police from perpetuating brutality and repression.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Sunday that its operatives have arrested two passengers traveling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight at the screening point of Terminal 2 of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, after they tested positive for ingestion of illicit substances on Friday, June 21.

According to the agency spokesman, Femi Babafemi, “The suspects, Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were taken into observatory custody. Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022 kg in six excretions, while Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance with a total weight of 662 grams in five egestions.”

Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel had stolen the identity of his late uncle, who was once based in Germany, to obtain a Schengen visa for free access to Europe. His real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju.

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Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid, worth over N7.35 billion in street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State.

The seizure, made from six containers on Saturday, June 29, was the third such operation in the past four weeks following credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure by a special operations unit of NDLEA.

In Abuja, NDLEA operatives disrupted a drug party dubbed “Go Hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison,” arresting 60 suspects (25 males and 35 females) at an apartment in Sun City estate, Federal Capital Territory. The raid followed credible intelligence about the party organized by Stanley Ikechukwu, who was arrested at the venue. Six suspects were found with different quantities of ecstasy and cannabis.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), directed that 20 of the suspects who tested negative for drugs be released unconditionally. Thirty-three others who tested positive for illicit drugs were to be released on bail and report to the FCT Command of the Agency on Monday to begin treatment and counseling.

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Additionally, about 40.32 kg of Loud, an imported strong strain of cannabis, was recovered from a black Toyota Tacoma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road when the driver abandoned the vehicle after noticing NDLEA operatives were on his trail.

Furthermore, four suspects—Endurance Okon, 24; Joseph Michael, 23; Ovoco Bright, 43; and Goday Abanum, 23—were arrested in a deep forest in Ugun, Igueben LGA, Edo State on Saturday, June 29, when NDLEA operatives raided and destroyed 18,632.22 kilograms of cannabis on 7.452888 hectares of farmland.

Across the country, NDLEA commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. These include WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of First Technical University, Ibadan, Oyo State; students of Government Day Secondary School, Yola, Adamawa; students and teachers of Ezeike High School, Nibo, Anambra; members of Mount Zion Anglican Church, Igoba, Akure, Ondo State; and WADA advocacy visits to the palace of the Oba of Yoruba in Kano, Dr. Murtala Alimi Otitese.

Commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Port Harcourt Ports, Lagos, and Edo Commands for their arrests, seizures, and dexterity, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), warned drug cartels that no matter the ingenuity of their modes of trafficking, the dedicated workforce of the Agency, in collaboration with other stakeholders and partners, will always be steps ahead to expose them and thwart their tricks. He urged the officers and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.