Grief and Fear Return to Mairari Village After Devastating Bomb Explosion in Borno State [VIDEO]

 

A quiet Saturday morning in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, was violently shattered when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at a local bus stop, killing nine individuals and injuring several others. The explosion, which occurred around 11 a.m., targeted unsuspecting civilians, many of whom were returnees attempting to rebuild their lives after years of displacement.

Confirming the tragic incident, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, described the loss as a profound blow to his constituents. Lawan, visibly shaken by the news, stated that the victims were residents patiently waiting to board commercial vehicles back to their temporary shelters in Monguno, Guzamala, and Maiduguri. “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,” he lamented. “May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for the swift recovery of those evacuated to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri for treatment following the incident.”

The bomb, reportedly planted by insurgents, appeared to be a calculated act aimed at disrupting the fragile peace in Mairari. The area had recently seen cautious returns of displaced persons who were hoping to resume farming and begin rebuilding their community. Many of those affected were among these hopeful returnees—individuals who had ventured back to their ancestral homes after prolonged displacement due to earlier attacks by terrorist groups.

Once a community under partial civil administration, Mairari had begun seeing signs of normalcy. That hope now hangs in a delicate balance. Lawan indicated that the insurgents had been observing the movement of people in the area, waiting for an opportune moment to strike. The explosives, deliberately placed at the village’s only functional bus stop, detonated precisely when a group had gathered to travel—turning a routine moment into a tragic catastrophe.

The attack bears the hallmarks of groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both of which have continued to mount offensives in Guzamala and other northern parts of Borno State. Lawan did not mince words in describing the urgency of the situation. He stressed that both Mairari and Gudumbali, the headquarters of Guzamala LGA, remain under the influence of insurgents with no visible presence of civil authority or security forces.

Appealing directly to the federal government and military leadership, the Speaker urged that renewed and intensified security operations are needed not just to neutralize the insurgents, but also to reassure returning populations that they are not alone in their quest for peace. “The military must act with urgency to restore security in Guzamala, especially in Mairari and Gudumbali, where the situation remains dire and civil administration is entirely absent,” Lawan emphasized.

Families of the deceased have been plunged into mourning, while the injured continue to receive medical care in hospitals across Monguno and Maiduguri. Humanitarian workers are reportedly assessing the situation and providing emergency support, although the security situation continues to pose challenges to their access and mobility.

On the law enforcement front, Borno State Police Command spokesperson Nahum Daso confirmed being aware of the incident but stated that full details were still being compiled. He assured the public that updates would be shared as more concrete information becomes available.

The latest tragedy underscores the enduring volatility of the region, where temporary gains in security are often disrupted by sudden, violent setbacks. While hope had begun to flicker in places like Mairari with the cautious return of displaced families, Saturday’s bombing serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that still persist.

Communities continue to tread a fragile line between hope and despair. As security forces weigh their next steps, the people of Mairari, and indeed all of Guzamala, remain in urgent need of protection, justice, and a sustainable return to peace.