By Barnabas Augustine
A devastating suicide bombing has claimed the lives of at least 19 civilians in the restive Borno State, Nigeria. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday in the village of Kawuri, around 30 miles from the state capital Maiduguri, left scores more wounded. The incident marks the latest in a string of assaults by insurgents that have plagued the region.
Just days earlier, an account working with a local education authority was killed and others injured when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on the road between Maiduguri and Damboa. This followed a multiple suicide bombing in Gwoza that resulted in the deaths of over 30 people last month.
The relentless violence has prompted security warnings for residents to avoid public gatherings. The situation has reached crisis point, with a police station in nearby Jakana recently overrun by insurgents, resulting in the deaths of two people and the theft of weapons.
A local source described the Kawuri attack as a "mysterious explosion" that ripped through a market, causing widespread carnage. Emergency services rushed the injured to hospital in Maiduguri.
Despite repeated attempts to contact the police for comment, the force has remained silent. However, a local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the horrific toll of the attack and called for urgent action to stem the tide of violence.
With each passing day, the grip of terror tightens on Borno State as the authorities appear increasingly powerless to halt the insurgency.