A roadside bomb, believed to have been planted by Islamic extremists, detonated beneath a passenger bus in northeastern Nigeria on Saturday, killing eight people and injuring over a dozen more, according to authorities.
The tragic incident occurred along the Damboa-Maiduguri highway in Borno State, a region long plagued by violence and insurgency.
Borno state police spokesperson Nahum Daso confirmed the details in an official statement, noting that the device was likely placed by militants affiliated with the extremist group Boko Haram, AP reported.
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Since 2009, Boko Haram has waged a brutal campaign aimed at abolishing Western-style education and enforcing a radical interpretation of Islamic law.
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Their violent insurgency, the longest-running militant conflict in Africa, has devastated communities across northeastern Nigeria and spilled over into neighboring countries.
According to the United Nations, the violence has claimed the lives of approximately 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people.
Although the insurgents have lost control of numerous villages and are largely confined to remote forests and the periphery of Lake Chad, they continue to launch attacks, ambushes, and raids in regions where government forces remain overstretched and under-equipped.
The most recent bombing has reignited fears among residents and travelers in Borno, heightening anxiety in a region already reeling from years of instability.
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