Suicide bombers have again wreaked havoc in Borno and Kano states leaving in their trail 17 people dead while 32 others were seriously injured.
A female suicide bomber detonated an explosive in a restaurant located in a popular fish market in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State on Friday which killed 10 people and injured 18 others.
Just as security operatives were working to solve the detonation in Borno State, another explosion occurred in a scrap metal shop in Kano city which left five persons dead while 15 others were seriously injured and have been taken to the hospital.
Confirming the Borno blast in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri, the spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, stated that, “A suicide bomb attack occurred on Friday, 20th June, 2025, at about 2130hrs, at fish market area in Konduga town, Borno State where a female suicide bomber, who had an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strapped to her body, infiltrated a crowd of unsuspecting civilians and detonated the device, resulting in the unfortunate loss of lives and multiple injuries. As of 1300HRs of 21st June, 2025: 12 dead, 18 seriously injured.”
The Police spokesman also confirmed that a joint response team comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Military, EOD-CBRN Unit, and other security agencies were swiftly mobilised to the scene to forestall further attacks and manage the emergency situation and ensure the safety of other people in the market.
According to Daso, “upon receipt of the distress call, a joint response team comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Military, EOD-CBRN Unit, and other security agencies swiftly mobilized to the scene to forestall further attacks and manage the emergency, the injured victims have been taken to hospital for medical treatment while sensitization on Explosive Risk Ordnance are ongoing.”
He noted that “The Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and all those affected by this heinous act.
“He also assures the public of the command’s unrelenting effort to ensure normalcy is fully restored in the area.
“The CP urges members of the public to remain calm, vigilant, and security conscious, and to promptly report any suspicious movement or activity to the nearest security agency.”
In Kano State, the police revealed that the device that exploded in the scrap metal shop was a “military model” explosive.
According to the police, it is unclear if the explosive was being transported by military personnel of contractors when it exploded.
The Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori who arrived the scrap metal shop few minutes after the explosion told journalists that the preliminary investigation revealed that a trailer transported the explosive from Yobe State and was offloading the item when the explosion occurred.
He said: “I received a call that something serious had happened. When I arrived, I found that it was a suspected explosion—possibly a military mortar bomb. Fifteen people were injured, and unfortunately, five died.”
“Preliminary findings suggest the explosive material was being transported by a trailer, but it remains unclear whether the vehicle was carrying military personnel or contractors,”
“Security agencies are currently investigating the incident. The facts will be clearer once the investigation is completed,” the Commissioner noted, urging the public to remain calm”
“The situation is still under investigation, but we understand the vehicle involved may have come from Yobe State.
Both the five dead people and the 15 injured persons have were taken to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.