Eight people were killed on Monday when terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) on a Niger bridge along Luma Road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The attack also destroyed a bridge connecting the Luma-Babana-Agwara communities, a key route used by residents traveling to the Babana border market, which holds every Monday, ENigeria Newspaper has learnt.
The assailants reportedly planted additional bombs in surrounding communities, causing widespread panic and forcing residents to flee.
“In the early hours today (Monday) bandits stormed Borgu local government area of the state and bombed the Lunma-Babana Niger bridge,” an undisclosed source told newsmen.
“The bridge has stopped the villagers from crossing to other parts of the communities especially to the Banana Monday Market to trade. Apart from bombing the Niger bridge, the bandits were said to have also detonated bombs between Rafingiwa and Babana and another at Woro and Kaiama thereby making residents of the communities to flee the area.”
The Chairman of Borgu Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Nasir Abdullahi, confirmed the attack. “There was actually an attack by the bandits and we are trying to verify the magnitude. A bridge was actually damaged. Already, we have sent people to the area to verify things for us,” he said.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the full extent of casualties or ongoing security measures, as investigations continue in the affected communities.
Just last week, ENigeria Newspaper reported that at least 12 people were murdered and numerous others were injured in a deadly bombing in Borno last week. A bustling market area in Maiduguri was the target of an early-morning attack by suspected terrorists that caused widespread panic and devastation. Residents reported the scene as chaotic, with destroyed infrastructure making it difficult for emergency personnel to reach victims.
The attack was denounced by the authorities, who also pledged to increase security to stop similar attacks in the area.
