Borno - A series of devastating explosions in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state resulted in at least 18 fatalities and numerous injuries on Saturday, according to emergency services. The attacks occurred in the town of Gwoza, where a woman carrying a baby detonated explosives at a wedding, followed by another blast at a hospital and a subsequent attack at a funeral for the wedding victims.

Barkindo Saidu, head of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), described the injuries as severe, ranging from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures among the 19 severely injured individuals, with others sustaining less severe wounds.

Gwoza, previously seized by Boko Haram militants in 2014 and later recaptured by Nigerian and Chadian forces, has faced repeated attacks since then. The region remains a focal point of conflict involving Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Boko Haram, infamous for its abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014, has been responsible for widespread violence, displacing over two million people and claiming tens of thousands of lives in its 15-year insurgency. Despite military efforts to contain their activities, the group continues to target civilians in deadly assaults.

The insurgency has spilled over into neighboring Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, prompting a collaborative military effort among these nations to combat the extremist threat.

The attacks on Saturday underscore the ongoing humanitarian crisis and security challenges faced by the region, with authorities continuing efforts to secure affected areas and provide relief to victims and displaced populations.