No fewer than nine passengers have been reportedly killed by improvised explosive devices, IEDs, planted by Boko Haram insurgents at Mairari village in Guzamala Local Government Area, LGA, of Borno State.

News sources said the incident occurred at a local bus stop, leaving many victims injured.

Confirming the attack, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, described the incident as inhumane.

He called for more military intervention, revealing that the entire Guzamala LGA had been captured and under the control of the insurgents.

“It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs today 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 after the incident,” he said.

“You 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 visits Mairari community and engaged in their farms.

“Unfortunately, some terrorists who have been monitoring their movement went and planted IEDs at their local bus stop, which exploded while waiting to join commercial vehicles back to their area of aboard.

“I know that the newly deployed Theatre Commander of North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and his troops are doing well in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP, let me reiterate my appeal for the military to take over the entire Guzamala local government area, which has remained under Boko Haram territory, so as to restore civil authority,” he added.

The military authorities are yet to speak on the latest incident as at press time.