Borno Bombblast (1).webp
A suspected IED blast at a bus stop in Mairari, Guzamala LGA, Borno, has left at least nine people feared dead and many others injured, mostly displaced returnees.
  • The explosion occurred on Saturday around 11 am in Mairari village.
  • Nine fatalities confirmed by Borno assembly speaker Abdulkarim Lawan.
  • Victims were returnees engaging in farming activities.
  • Injured persons were evacuated to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri.
  • Lawmaker urges military to reclaim Mairari and Gudumbali from insurgents.
The return of displaced residents to farming is a hopeful sign of recovery, but this attack is a tragic reminder that Guzamala remains far from secure. With Boko Haram and ISWAP factions still operating in the area, even bus stops become deadly traps.

Mairari had been previously resettled, only to be abandoned again due to insecurity. The pattern reflects the fragile nature of civilian resettlement in the face of persistent insurgency.

This latest attack underscores urgent calls for a renewed military focus on Borno’s vulnerable LGAs. Safety must come before resettlement. Until then, returning home will remain a deadly risk for too many.