Read < 1 minute

The chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has condemned the June 29 suicide attacks that left at least 18 people dead and dozens injured in northern Nigeria.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Mahamat extended his condolences to the government of Nigeria and the families of the victims and wished those injured a full recovery.

“The Chairperson reiterates the African Union’s unequivocal rejection of all forms of violent extremism, terrorism, and other acts of violence against innocent civilians, and calls for urgent collective action to strengthen the prevention of the recruitment of children for terror attacks,” the statement reads in part.

Nigerian police said the three blasts, one of which was carried out by a woman who had a baby strapped on her back, hit the town of Gwoza, which lies across the border from Cameroon, in northeastern Borno State. Female suicide bombers also staged the other two attacks.

Deadly clashes have taken place in Borno State for more than a decade. Thousands have died. Millions more are now homeless.

The Nigerian military has waged war on the extremist groups that operate mainly in the northeast region of the country, pinning them back to uninhabited forest areas.

The groups occasionally stage attacks, targeting public spaces and government facilities.

In his statement, the AUC Chairperson reiterated the African Union’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terror.

“The Chairperson reiterates the African Union’s solidarity with and support for the efforts of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in effectively countering terrorism and violent extremism in the region,” said Mahamat.