Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yushau Abubakar yesterday said that troops under his command were able to gun down 14 female suicide bombers during the Sunday’s attack on Maiduguri, the state capital.
General Abubakar said Maiduguri would have witnessed another major disaster had the 14 female suicide bombers found their ways into the heart of the city.
Addressing journalists at the Operation Lafiya Dole media centre in Maiduguri, the theatre commander, Major General Abubakar, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Lamidi Adeosun, said: “The female suicide bombers of ages between 12 and 18 tried to force their ways into Maiduguri with the intent of causing mayhem, confusion and panic but were intercepted by the troops of Nigerian Army on patrol”.
“But unfortunately three of the suicide bombers detonated the IEDs killing 25 persons, while 85 others were injured.”
Major General Lamidi Adeosun, who is the GOC 7 Division Maiduguri, said: “The terrorists intended to carry out massive and coordinated suicide missions through Asmari, Damboa check point, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, Jumari villages all at the outskirts of Maidugri.”
The commander said: “Some of the suicide bombers were gunned down by our troops, three escaped and one arrested which I believe they have averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri.
“One of them went to a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque and blew off herself killing one person while 13 others were injured.”
General Abubakar said the insurgents’ capacity to attack has been degraded “that was why they were bent on attacking soft targets”.
He appealed to the general public to always be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security outfits nearby.
Meanwhile, last night, Boko Haram fighters stormed Maiduguri with the intention to attack but were repelled by soldiers. The insurgents who came with trucks loaded with female suicide bombers were able to sneak some of them into the city while they were being engaged by soldiers.
The insurgents had yesterday at about 7:30am resumed attack on the city through the female suicide bombers mostly young girls.
The first attack was on a group of people sitting outside a mosque located behind the Maiduguri Federal High Court Complex near Jiddari Polo.
Residents of Buraburin, where the attack was carried out said a female suicide bomber approached the gathering outside the mosque and simply detonated her self, killing about 20 persons, injuring many others.
Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima had yesterday visited the injured victims of the attacks in two different hospitals where he commiserated with them.
Chief Medical Director (CMD) of State Specialists Hospital, Dr. Salisu Kwaya Bura, and the CMD of Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital, Dr. Laraba Bello had while briefing Governor Kashim Shettima on the state of patients at the hospitals , said that 32 bodies were deposited in hospital morgue, while 85 injured people were admitted yesterday with nine patients referred to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for further treatments for burns and multiple fractures.
At the Umaru Shehu Hospital, Dr. Bura also said that 39 injured persons were brought in yesterday, with one pregnant woman giving up the ghost in the early hours of yesterday. ”
Governor Shettima, who spoke in grief said the attack should further challenge the citizens to be more vigilant.
“We will urge our people to be extra vigilant and to report all suspicious movements to the nearest military formations”, said Shettima .
“Our head is bloody but remains unbowed. We believe that the worst is over and by God’s willing, we shall strive to give hope to the hopeless; and a cause of joy to the down trodden.
“That will not deter us; we will continue to preach for peace, dialogue, tolerance and understanding. But these lunatics by the grace of God, their days are numbered. They can inflict pains on us certainly, but our spirit remains high.”
17 Dead, 41 Injured In Madagali Suicide Bomb Attack – Adamawa Govt
Adamawa State government has confirmed the death of 17 people whie 41 others sustained varying degree of injuries in the latest suicide bomb attack on Madagali Local Government of the state.
Making the disclosure, Adamawa State Commissioner of Information Comrade Ahmad Sajoh noted that the number of casualties was arrived at after consultations with various stakeholders including community leaders, humanitarian workers and security operatives in the area.
He noted that the injured victims have been taken to various hospitals in Borno and Adamawa states with the worst injured victims taken to the Federal Medical Center Yola.
Sajoh noted that the state government has taken responsibility of footing the cost of treating the victims of the bomb blast just as he said the government is assessing the situation to chart better measures in securing border communities.
Sajoh added that the government would enhance public enlightenment campaigns in the state so as to sensitize the people in order to be extra vigilant urging the general public to be more conscious of their environment and report suspicious movements and persons to the security operatives.
He noted that normalcy has since returned to Madagali after the unfortunate incident as government is collaborating with security agencies to ensure a water tight security across all the vulnerable border communities and by extension every nook and cranny of the State.
Meanwhile, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), has confirmed the death of 17 persons in Monday’s twin suicide bomb attack in Madagali town.
The Executive Secretary of ADSEMA, Mallam Haruna Furo, who made the confirmation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Yola that 41 people sustained injuries.
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