The death toll in the Saturday suicide bombing attacks in the Gwoza area of Borno State has hit 32.
While 14 of the victims have been discharged, 26 remain in the hospital receiving treatment.
According to The PUNCH, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, gave the update on Monday while speaking with journalists after paying a condolence visit to the victims and families of those who lost their lives in the suicide bombings.
The attacks, carried out on Saturday by suspected female suicide bombers, struck a wedding, a hospital, and a funeral in Gwoza, a town near the border with Cameroon.
According to the Borno State Police Command spokesman, Nahum Daso, on Sunday, three blasts took place on Saturday in Gwoza.
Shettima described the incident as pathetic, rehashing the words of the late Dele Giwa saying, “One life lost in cold blood is as gruesome as millions lost in cold blood.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, revealed details of the VP’s visit in a statement titled, ‘VP Shettima in Maiduguri, consoles victims of Gwoza suicide bombings’.
Shettima spoke to journalists immediately after meeting and commiserating with victims of the attack at the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, conveying the condolences of President Bola Tinubu to the Borno State government and the people of Gwoza.
He said, “It was a very pathetic scene. Our hearts go out to the victims. So far, we have recorded 32 deaths; 42 of those injured were brought in from Gwoza and about 14 have been discharged, while about 26 are currently receiving attention.
“I want to use this forum to most sincerely register our profound gratitude to the Borno State government, the National Emergency Management Agency, the State Emergency Management Agency and ICRC for rising to the challenges of the times and giving their best in terms of support.”
The Vice President, who made a personal donation to all the victims of the attacks and condoled with the families of those killed by the multiple explosions, said the heart of the President was with them.
“The heart of President Bola Tinubu is with the victims and he specifically instructed us to come and offer our condolences and commiserations to the victims of this incident.
“We are here with the Director General of NEMA, with the Minister of Agriculture, with the Minister of Transportation and, of course, the Chief Whip of the Senate, a son of the soil from Gwoza, who was here since yesterday (Sunday), and the Acting Governor. They have been working round the clock to provide succor and support to the victims,” VP Shettima stated.
