A fresh tragedy struck Borno State on Friday night as a female suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at a popular food joint in Konduga town, killing at least 24 people and injuring several others.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident, which occurred around 10 p.m. on June 20, 2025 — about 36 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
According to police sources, the bomber, believed to be a member of a terrorist cell, walked into the crowded food joint where residents had gathered to buy food and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), instantly killing dozens.
“The explosion resulted in the death of 24 persons, both male and female, while an unspecified number of others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” a senior police officer told PLATFORM TIMES under condition of anonymity.
He added that the body of the bomber was mutilated beyond recognition, with only her head recovered from the scene.
Security operatives, including personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units, the military, police tactical teams, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local hunters, swiftly moved to the scene to secure the area.
“The scene was immediately cordoned off and thoroughly searched for other potential explosive devices, but none were found,” the source added. “Normalcy has since been restored.”
The injured victims were evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where they are receiving treatment, while the corpses of the deceased were deposited in the hospital’s morgue. Medical personnel on duty confirmed the deaths.
Police authorities also disclosed that efforts were ongoing to profile the victims and release the bodies to their families for burial according to religious rites.
Following the attack, security has been heightened across Konduga and neighbouring communities to prevent further assaults.
The attack marks a chilling reminder of Boko Haram’s and ISWAP’s long-standing use of female suicide bombers to infiltrate civilian spaces in the North-East. Analysts believe the incident could signal renewed attempts by insurgent groups to destabilize Borno communities after months of relative calm.
Residents of Konduga have, however, appealed to the government to intensify security surveillance, particularly in crowded areas, to prevent further loss of lives.
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