Eighteen people were killed on Saturday when four suicide bombers set off improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza, Borno State, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said.

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.

“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.

“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.

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has expressed shock over the boldness displayed by certain drug dealers, who have obtained court orders for the release of confiscated illicit drug shipments.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, the governor disclosed that he was shocked by their actions during his visit to the Kano Road Traffic Agency where he was briefed on the situation.

The governor’s amazement was evident as he discovered that some individuals who engaged in the illicit drug trade had successfully procured court orders for the release of their seized contraband.

He expressed surprise over the judge’s reasoning for issuing such questionable orders, emphasising the severity of the issue at hand.

Worried by the unfortunate development, the governor instructed the State Attorney General to formulate a comprehensive strategy to prevent drug traffickers from exploiting legal loopholes in the future.

He stressed the need for collaboration between the judiciary and the government, so as to shield the state from the dangers posed by drug trafficking.

Recognising the diligence of KAROTA in apprehending illicit drugs, the governor urged the agency to take the requisite actions to eliminate the confiscated substances.

Reiterating his administration’s unwavering dedication to combating drug smuggling within the state, Yusuf affirmed the state government’s assistance to agencies committed to tackling drug trafficking and abuse.

The Governor, who underscored the seriousness of the drug trafficking dilemma, called for the urgent need for a unified endeavour to protect the state from the menace of illicit substances.

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended two robbery suspects, Musa Ibrahim (30) and Ibrahim Danjuma (22), who carried out a robbery attack on a woman in her shop in the Imude area of Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

He wrote, “30-year old Musa Ibrahim and 22-year old Ibrahim Danjuma robbed a woman in her shop at about 11pm in the Imude area of Ojo LGA. The police were alerted and a patrol team from Ilemba Hausa Division swiftly responded.

“The suspects were apprehended with the help of community members. A locally made firearm was recovered. Indeed, security is everyone’s business.”

SP Hundeyin’s post highlighted the collaborative efforts between the police and the community, emphasising the importance of collective security measures in tackling crime.

The prompt response by the Ilemba Hausa Division and the assistance from community members played a crucial role in the swift apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of the weapon used in the robbery.