Another Bloody Saturday: Bomb Blast Kills 9 in Borno Bus Stop | READ DETAILS

Mournful scenes unfolded in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, as an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at a local bus stop, claiming the lives of at least nine residents and injuring several others.

The blast, which occurred at about 11:00 am on Saturday, is believed to have been planted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who allegedly monitored the movement of displaced returnees farming in the area. Victims were waiting to board commercial vehicles when the deadly explosion erupted, sending shockwaves through the once-resettled community.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, described the attack as a tragic setback for residents who had bravely returned to rebuild their lives.

"It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village,ÔÇØ Lawan lamented.

The victims, according to the lawmaker, were mostly displaced persons who had been resettled in the now-volatile Mairari community and had returned to engage in agricultural activities in a bid to survive.

Mairari, once considered a beacon of post-insurgency recovery, is now facing renewed insecurity. Lawan disclosed that despite previous efforts to restore civil authority in Guzamala, the area has again become a stronghold for insurgents.

"You are aware that Mairari village, which was previously the only village resettled twice with civil authority in the entire Guzamala LGA, has once again been deserted due to Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks,ÔÇØ he added.

Security agencies are yet to provide full details. The Borno State Police Command's spokesperson, Nahum Daso, when contacted, stated he was awaiting an official briefing and would release further updates.

Lawan extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the swift recovery of those receiving treatment in hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri.

He further called on the Nigerian military to step up its operations and reclaim areas like Mairari and Gudumbali, Guzamala's headquarters, which remain under insurgent control.

Despite claims of territorial gains by federal forces, the latest tragedy paints a grim picture of a region still trapped under the shadow of terror.