Nigeria: Suicide bombers kill 31 in Borno state June 16

Event

At approximately 20:30 (local time) on Saturday, June 16, two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers detonated explosive devices in the town of Damboa (Borno state). According to local sources, at least 31 people were killed and several more wounded in the attack. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the bombings as of Sunday, June 17, Boko Haram is suspected of carrying out the attacks. Further attacks are possible in area in the coming days and weeks.

Context

The northeastern region of Nigeria is highly susceptible to attacks by Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in March 2015 and formally adopted the name of Islamic State in West Africa. While Nigerian military forces have pushed Boko Haram insurgents from much of their previously-claimed territory over the past year, attacks by the insurgent group have been on the rise since June 2017.

Advice

The security environment in Nigeria is complex, and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Jigawa, and Kano states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). It is also advisable to avoid nonessential travel to Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, and Kaduna states. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.