A woman believed to be acting on behalf of the militant group Boko Haram detonated explosives strapped to her body late Friday in Konduga, a town in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, killing at least 20 people, according to local militia sources.
The blast targeted a popular hangout spot for vigilantes and local hunters who support the Nigerian military in its counter-insurgency efforts.
“We lost 20 people in the suicide attack which happened yesterday around 9:15 pm (2015 GMT) while our members were hanging out near the fish market,” said Tijjani Ahmed, leader of an anti-jihadist militia in Konduga district.
Police have confirmed 10 deaths so far, but acknowledged that the toll could rise.
Konduga lies approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
While suicide bombings have plagued surrounding areas for years, the town itself had experienced a period of relative calm over the past year.
“Eighteen people died on the spot, while 18 others were injured. Two more died in hospital, raising the death toll to 20,” Ahmed said, adding that 16 of the wounded were hospitalized, with 10 in serious condition in Maiduguri.
On Saturday, victims were buried in a mass funeral, with an AFP reporter witnessing the somber scene as corpses, some wrapped in white cloths and others in bamboo mats, were laid out on wooden platforms before burial.
The bomber reportedly disguised herself as a local heading to the fish market. Upon reaching the militia’s gathering spot, she triggered the explosion.
“She detonated her explosives as soon she reached the shed used by the militia fighters as a hangout,” said Ibrahim Liman, another militia member who confirmed the same casualty figures as Ahmed.
“I was in the market to buy fish for dinner when I heard a loud bang some metres behind me,” said local resident Ahmed Mallum.
“I was flung to the ground and I couldn’t stand. I just lay down.”
Borno State police spokesperson Nahum Daso reported that 10 bodies had been recovered, but stressed that “details are sketchy,” suggesting the final toll could be higher.
Konduga’s fish market, especially busy at night, has previously been targeted by suicide bombers.
The ongoing insurgency by Boko Haram has spanned 16 years, leaving more than 40,000 dead and displacing around two million people, according to the United Nations.
The violence has since spilled into neighboring countries, including Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a regional military coalition to combat the militant threat.
