PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to redouble their efforts in defeating the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the country.
Tinubu made the call while mourning the victims of the suicide bombing in Konduga, Borno State, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday.
The President described the attack as an act of cowardice.
He commiserated with the Borno State Government and the people of the state over the incident.
He also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the survivors.
The statement read in part, President Bola Tinubu has expressed anguish over the suicide bombing in Konduga, Borno State, at the weekend. The President mourned those who lost their lives, describing the attack as cowardly.
“He urged security agencies to double their efforts in routing remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents who resort to attacks on soft targets as a diversionary tactic.
“President Tinubu condoled with the Government and people of Borno State over the incident and directed the National Emergency Management Agency to support survivors.”
Meanwhile, Tinubu sympathised with the families of those killed or injured by an explosion on Saturday morning in Kano State.
“The explosion at a scrap metal factory affected 15 people, with five of them losing their lives.
“President Tinubu stressed the importance of workplace safety measures and tasked relevant government institutions with investigating the incident,” the statement added.
The Borno explosion occurred at about 9:30 pm on Friday at Tashan Kifi, an entry point also known as the fish market in Konduga town.
Reports from sources said over 20 persons were killed in the explosion, with over 12 sustaining injuries from the female suicide attacker.
But the spokesperson of the Borno Police Command, ASP Daso Kenneth, says so far only 10 people had died in the suicide attack.
“We received a distress call yesterday evening at about 10 pm, a female suicide bomber carrying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), sneaked into a crowd at a local food market and detonated her explosives, leaving 10 people dead, with several others injured.
“Security agencies were able to clear the area, evacuated the victims, while the injured ones have been rushed to hospitals in Maiduguri for treatment,” Kenneth said.
In Kano, a devastating explosion rocked the Gidan Karfe area along the Eastern Bypass in Kano City on Friday, leaving five people dead and at least 10 others seriously injured.
The blast, which occurred in the afternoon, was believed to have been caused by explosive devices hidden among scrap materials transported from Yobe State.
The incident sparked widespread panic in the vicinity, with emergency responders and security operatives rushing to the scene.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano, Ibrahim Bakori, who arrived at the location shortly after the explosion, confirmed the incident.