The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the coordinated suicide bomb attacks on Gwoza community in Borno State.
At least 18 people were killed while 30 others were injured on Saturday in multiple attacks by female suicide bombers during a wedding in Gwoza.
The first suicide bomber detonated during a marriage celebration, minutes later the second bomb occurred near the General Hospital while the third bomber at the funeral service was disguised as a mourner.
In a statement on Monday, the ACF said it is very worrisome and disheartening that such attacks would occur when the community has begun to look forward to a relatively terror-free life.
The statement signed by Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the forum’s spokesperson, said no efforts should be spared to ensure speedy return to normalcy for the people of Borno and all communities across the nation under siege by terrorists and bandits.
The forum noted that ACF the attacks were specifically targeted, for maximum impact, at a wedding ceremony, a funeral and a hospital, by brainwashed female agents.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum is greatly saddened to receive news about coordinated suicide bomb attacks on Gwoza community of Borno State, as experienced on Saturday, 29th June, 2024”, the statement reads.
“The sordid events led to the death of at least 19 persons, including women and children (perhaps still counting), with scores of people wounded.
“Although no persons or groups have claimed responsibility for the cowardly attacks, they had all the tale tell hallmarks of the well-known terror strategies of Boko Haram religious extremist insurgents.
“ACF observes that the attacks were specifically targeted, for maximum impact, at a wedding party, a funeral and a hospital, all soft and defenceless targets, as undertaken by brainwashed female agents.
“ACF strongly condemns the dastardly and evil attacks and extends condolences to the families, friends and loved ones on the loss of lives.”
The forum said the attack was a clear indication, “that although degraded by battles with security agents, Boko Haram insurgents still retain a modicum of capability and capacity to wreck misery on hapless communities on account of a misguided religious ideology”.
It lamented that is it “very worrisome and disheartening that such attacks would occur when the community has begun to look forward to relatively terror-free lives, away from the criminality-infested existence of the last few years.”
The statement called for strategic synergy between government, communities international bilateral and multilateral agencies to exterminate the Boko Haram insurgents.
Muhammad-Baba said “No efforts should be spared to ensure speedy return to normalcy for the people of Borno and indeed all communities across the nation under siege by extremists, insurgents, terrorists and bandits.
“The fight against the criminal elements must be total and uncompromising and implemented first on firefight and later at the ideological levels.
“Government needs to intensify the current policy on engaging with bandits, extremists and insurgents, seeking to win them back into normal society.
“However, the strategy must be anchored on the basis of overwhelming and demonstrable force.
“The terror merchants must be stopped from holding grounds, absolutely anywhere in Nigeria, for much longer.”