At least 18 people were killed and 30 others were injured in a series of suicide bombings that took place in Gwoza, Borno State, Nigeria on Saturday. The attacks, thought to be carried out by female suicide bombers, targeted a wedding ceremony, the victims' subsequent funeral, and a hospital. Authorities confirmed 18 deaths, including children, adults, and pregnant women; however, local news outlets, including Nigeria's Vanguard and This Day, have reported a death toll of at least 30. The attacks have been condemned by President Bola Tinubu, Amnesty International Nigeria, and the US Mission in Nigeria, and a military curfew has been imposed.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, authorities suspect the Nigeria-centered Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents. ISWAP has previously claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the Borno State. Borno State has been the epicenter of a 15-year insurgency by Boko Haram Islamist militants. Boko Haram is known for using both male and female suicide bombers. In fact, one study concluded that Boko Haram has used more women as suicide bombers than any other group in history.
Boko Haram's activities have resulted in the displacement of over two million people and the deaths of over 40,000. In 2014, the group gained international notoriety when it kidnapped more than 270 schoolgirls from a school in Chibok, Borno State. Shortly after the kidnappings, the group deployed its first male suicide bomber, followed by its first female suicide bomber three years later. Some speculate that the female suicide bombers are the missing Chibok schoolgirls. Many believe the hijab, a head-to-toe covering traditionally worn by some Muslim women, provides adequate cover for hiding explosives.
Gwoza was overtaken by Boko Haram in 2014, and then recaptured by Nigerian forces in 2015. However, the group continues to operate near the town. It is suspected that the Gwoza suicide attacks are an attempt by jihadist groups to reassert themselves and demonstrate their capacity to inflict harm. In a separate attack in November 2023, Boko Haram insurgents killed 20 people returning from a funeral service in neighboring Yobe state. This followed another attack where militants killed 17 people in Gurokayeya village after villagers refused to pay a "harvest tax."