Woman Suicide Bomber Kills 12 at Fish Market in Nigeria’s Borno State, Raising Security Concerns

Woman Suicide Bomber Kills 12 at Fish Market in Nigeria’s Borno State, Raising Security Concerns
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On the night of June 21, a woman detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at a crowded fish market in Konduga town, located about 25 kilometers southeast of Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State, Human Rights Watch reported. The explosion killed at least 12 people, marking the first suicide bombing in the region in 2025 after a series of such attacks throughout 2024.

The attack is part of a long-running conflict between Nigerian security forces and Islamist insurgent groups, mainly Boko Haram, which has persisted for 16 years. Suicide bombings have been a frequent tactic, often involving women who conceal explosives beneath their hijabs.

Since Nigeria’s first recorded suicide bombing in 2011, Boko Haram has carried out hundreds of attacks targeting civilians. However, incidents declined in recent years due to military successes and the group’s fragmentation into rival factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS). ISWAP generally targets military installations, while JAS is known for brutal attacks on civilians.

President Bola Tinubu condemned the bombing as an attempt to spread fear and directed security forces to eliminate Boko Haram remnants. Although no group has claimed responsibility, the attack highlights ongoing security challenges and raises concerns about a resurgence of the JAS faction.