A devastating suicide bombing ripped through a bustling fish market in Borno state on Friday night, killing at least 12 and injuring dozens more. Police identified the attacker as a woman who detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) strapped to her body amid a crowd of civilians.

“The injured have been taken to hospital,” said police spokesperson Nahum Kenneth Daso. Residents on the scene reported the number of injured could exceed 30.

Longstanding Insurgency Haunts the Region

The blast occurred in the heart of northeastern Nigeria, a region ravaged for over 16 years by Islamist armed groups, most prominently Boko Haram. The insurgency has killed tens of thousands and displaced at least 2 million people, according to aid agencies.

This latest attack marks a grim continuation of the insurgent tactic of using female bombers to target civilians, especially in vulnerable public areas like markets and transport hubs.