From HASSAN JIRGI, Maiduguri
Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has confirmed that at least nine villagers were killed at the weekend by Inprovised Explosive Devices, IEDs, at Mairari village in Guzamala Local Government Area.
He said nine villagers were killed by IEDs, while waiting to board vehicles to their different destinations at a bus stop in Mairari Village.
The speaker, who disclosed this during an interview with AljazirahNigeria, expressed deep shock over the killings by IEDs suspected to have been planted at the bus stop by Boko Haram terrorists.
Lawan also condoled the families of the deceased and those who sustained varying degree of injuries.
He prayed Allah to grant Aljanatul Firdaus to the souls of the deceased and wished the injured quick recovery.
The speaker also appealed to the military and other security agencies to recapture the entire Guzamala, especially Gudumbali, the local government headquarters, Mairari village and its environs, which he said have been deserted and under the control of Boko Haram without civil authority for many years.
According to him, terrorists planted an IED at the bus stop which exploded and wreaked havoc by killing the victims amid other devastating impact.
“Nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs today (Saturday) while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village. May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for quick recovery to those who were evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri hospitals for treatment.
He said we are aware that Mairari village which was hitherto the only village that was resettled two times with civil authority in the whole of Guzamala Local Government Area has remained deserted again due to Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks.
“As resilient people, most of them who are taking refuge in Monguno, Guzamala and Maiduguri usually visit Mairari community to engage in their farms.
He added that some terrorists who have been monitoring their movement planted IED at their local bus stop which exploded while waiting to join commercial vehicles back to their area of abode
Mallam Bahna Mustapha said the incident which occurred on Saturday at about 11am also left scores of villagers injured, they were later evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri for medical treatment.
He added that the residents often gather at a specific bus stop in Mairari to board commercial vehicles to Monguno, Gajiram or Maiduguri after their daily exercise.
AljaziraNigeria recalls that Mairari village is about 18km drive from Monguno Local Government Area and 119km away from Maiduguri, the state capital.
