A bomb planted by suspected Islamist militants exploded at a bus park in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state on Saturday, killing at least nine people, according to a local lawmaker and residents.
The attack took place in Mairari village in Guzamala district, an area repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, who have stepped up the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Abdulkarim Lawan, speaker of the Borno state assembly and representative for the area, said the blast occurred as villagers waited to board commercial vehicles.
“Terrorists monitoring their movements planted IEDs at the bus stop, which exploded as they were boarding,” Lawan said. The repeated attacks have left Mairari village largely deserted, he added.
Police confirmed the explosion but provided no further details.
Witness Bunu Bukar, a petty trader at the scene, said the device was triggered when passengers boarded a minibus, killing nine instantly and injuring several others.
Borno has been the epicenter of a 16-year Islamist insurgency that has displaced tens of thousands and left thousands dead. Attacks by militants have intensified since January, targeting both civilians and military positions.