At least 24 people were killed and several others injured when a female suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at a crowded food joint in Konduga town, Borno State on Friday night.
The deadly attack occurred around 10:00 p.m. at a popular eatery located approximately 36 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital, according to security sources.
Details of the Attack
Eyewitnesses report that the female attacker entered the busy food spot before detonating the explosive, causing immediate casualties. Both men and women were among the 24 people confirmed dead in the blast, while numerous others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The force of the explosion completely shattered the bomber's body, with emergency responders recovering only her head at the scene.
Emergency Response
A coordinated team of security personnel responded swiftly to the incident, including military forces, police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) teams, tactical units, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local hunters.
The area was immediately cordoned off and thoroughly searched, though no additional explosives were discovered. Injured victims were evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were transported to the hospital's morgue.
Medical officials at UMTH have confirmed the casualty figures, and authorities have stated that profiling of the victims is currently underway. Plans are being made to release the bodies to their families for burial according to religious customs.
Ongoing Investigation
While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, security analysts note that similar incidents in the region have previously been attributed to insurgent groups operating in Nigeria's North-East.
This attack represents one of the deadliest in recent months in Borno State, which has long been at the epicenter of Nigeria's battle against terrorism.
BenriNews will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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