Nigeria: Female suicide bombers kill 18 people in Borno State

A hospital, a wedding and a funeral were targeted by female suicide bombers in coordinated attacks on 30 June, as reported by APNews on 30 June 2024. Pregnant mothers and children attending Gwoza General Hospital were amongst those killed. President Tinubu called it an ‘isolated episode,’ vowing those behind the attacks would meet justice.  No terror group has admitted to the atrocity, but Boko Haram has previously claimed deadly bombings targeting civilians in Nigeria’s North-Eastern Borno State.   

“Boko Haram have used women suicide bombers extensively, including girls as young as ten in the past,” notes Naomi Williams of World Watch Research. “It’s prompting suspicions that these women were hostages, victims of mass kidnappings in the region, in which thousands of people (including Christians) have been taken, and most likely drugged and coerced. The resurgence of suicide bombings in Nigeria’s North-East will raise concerns about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security response to violent Islamic militancy. The Nigerian government has made much of recent gains in Nigeria’s battle against terrorism.  While President Tinubu described this as an ‘isolated episode’, the BBC has reported suicide bombs and IED explosive devices targeting civilians on at least two other occasions in the last four months.”