Breaking: Explosion Rocks APC-controlled State, Deaths Recorded

According to NewsVista sources in Yobe State, a suspected bomb blast has claimed at least four lives and left over 20 others injured along the Katarko-Goniri road in Gujba Local Government Area on Friday, June 27.

The victims were reportedly on their way to the Buniyadi market, a bustling commercial hub in the area, when their vehicle triggered what is believed to be an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the poorly maintained road.

Eyewitnesses say the explosion happened in the early hours of Friday, throwing the quiet community of Gotala into chaos. The community, which lies on the edge of the notorious Sambisa Forest, has long been exposed to attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.

“It was a terrifying scene,” one resident told NewsVista.
“The vehicle exploded suddenly, and we rushed to find bodies scattered on the ground.”

Death, Injuries, and Uncertainty

Local authorities have confirmed that four people died in the incident, with 21 others rushed to medical facilities in Damaturu, including the Specialist Hospital and Yobe State University Teaching Hospital.

The deceased were returned to their community for burial in line with Islamic rites.

As of press time, the Nigerian military has not issued an official statement on the attack.

A Road of Blood and Neglect

Relatives of the victims say the tragedy could have been avoided if the road had been rehabilitated. Speaking to NewsVista, several community members called on the Yobe State Government to urgently reconstruct the Katarko-Goniri road, which they say has become a death trap.

“If the road was motorable, the vehicle wouldn’t have taken that path. It’s these bad roads that give terrorists the upper hand,” one local elder lamented.

A Persistent Threat in the Northeast

Though Nigerian security forces have recorded victories in reclaiming territories from Boko Haram and Islamic State-aligned fighters, the insurgents have adapted their tactics — shifting from large-scale attacks to hit-and-run ambushes and IED deployments.

Security experts also warn that Boko Haram has expanded its methods, including drone surveillance and increased use of guerrilla warfare to strike rural communities and busy transit routes.

Communities like Gotala, near the fringes of Sambisa, remain especially vulnerable.

A Call for Action

The tragedy is a painful reminder that northeastern Nigeria is still far from secure, despite years of military intervention. The people of Gujba and surrounding areas are pleading with the federal and state governments to prioritize infrastructure, intensify intelligence gathering, and secure rural access roads before more lives are lost.