Boko Haram: Governor Zulum Saddened as Bomb Blast Kills Eight, Injures Dozens in Borno

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has expressed deep sorrow over a bomb explosion believed to have been orchestrated by Boko Haram insurgents along the Maiduguri–Damboa highway.

The explosion, suspected to be from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), claimed the lives of eight people and left 21 others injured on Saturday. The victims were in civilian vehicles traveling along the route.

Among the injured, 14 sustained critical wounds, while seven were treated for minor injuries at the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.

During a visit to the victims, Governor Zulum described the attack as tragic, noting that it was the first IED incident the state had witnessed in over a year.

“It’s unfortunate this has happened, especially after such a long period without IED attacks,” Zulum stated.

He mentioned that the road had been inaccessible for a month prior to the incident and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.

He urged the military and other security bodies to intensify monitoring of the highway to prevent future attacks.

Governor Zulum also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to boosting community-based security initiatives, including providing support to the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local youth volunteers involved in combating insurgency.

He also shared optimism following recent talks with military leaders in Abuja regarding the growing threat of Boko Haram.

“Our recent meeting with the service chiefs in Abuja was productive. We raised concerns about the renewed activities of Boko Haram in Borno and received firm commitments from them to take decisive action,” Zulum added.