 "Bomb blast kills 8 in Nigeria’s Borno state; Boko Haram suspected to be responsible")
A roadside bomb exploded under a passenger bus in northeastern Nigeria on Saturday (April 12), killing at least eight people and injuring more than a dozen others in the conflict-hit Borno state, authorities have confirmed.
The device is believed to have been planted by Islamist militants linked to the Boko Haram group.
The attack occurred along the Damboa-Maiduguri highway, a key but perilous route connecting communities in Borno state. Police spokesman Nahum Daso said the bus drove over the hidden explosive, triggering the deadly blast.
The assault is the latest in a protracted insurgency that has plagued Nigeria’s northeast for over a decade. Boko Haram launched its violent campaign in 2009, initially targeting schools and government institutions in a bid to impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law. The conflict has since spiralled into one of Africa’s deadliest and longest-running armed struggles.
According to the United Nations, more than 35,000 people have been killed, and over two million have been displaced by the violence. The group’s activities have spilled over Nigeria’s borders into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, destabilising the wider Lake Chad Basin region.
While Nigerian security forces have retaken most of the territory once controlled by Boko Haram, the group and its splinter factions remain active in rural and forested areas. Militants continue to carry out ambushes, raids and bomb attacks, often targeting civilians and lightly defended towns.
Saturday’s blast has renewed fears among residents and travellers in the region, many of whom rely on the Damboa-Maiduguri road despite the persistent danger. Security remains fragile, with state forces often overstretched and under-resourced in remote communities.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe incident comes amid concerns over the resurgence of extremist attacks in Nigeria’s northeast. Despite repeated military offensives and claims of victory, Boko Haram and its offshoots continue to pose a lethal threat to civilians here.
With inputs from AP
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