By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi

Four people were killed while eight sustained injuries when suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers detonated explosives in Umarari village, Borno State, on Saturday night.

Borno Police Command said the attack was carried out by three suicide bombers, a man and two women.

Police spokesperson, Victor Isuku,  who confirmed the incident, said the bombers attempted to access Maiduguri town when the incident occurred.

He said members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) challenged the bombers and they proceeded to detonate the explosives strapped to their bodies.

“At about 2100hrs of 18/3/2017, three suicide bombers, a male and two females, attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri town through Umarari village, in Molai general area.

“They were sighted by Civilian JTF and challenged. They detonated the IEDs strapped to their bodies while running in different directions.

“Four people, including a Civilian JTF, a woman and her two children died while eight others sustained injuries, and have been taken to hospital.”

Umarari has suffered several Boko Haram attacks in the past.

The last attack on the village was in June 2016 when two female suicide bombers killed 22 people while observing early morning prayers.

Umarari is a small village with less than 200 residents. It is about five kilometres south of Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.

Last week, security operatives and members of Civilian Joint Task Force intercepted and killed a pregnant suicide bomber and another woman in Borno.

The two female suicide bombers were killed when they refused to surrender and attempted to attack a security post. Two days after, six people were killed as four teenage girls detonated explosives worn around their bodies at the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in the early hours of Wednesday, an official said.

Four deafening explosions echoed over Maiduguri in quick successions at about 1.15 a.m., causing sleeping residents to jump out of their beds in fear of yet another horrific attack by Boko Haram.

About 16 persons were also injured in the blasts.

But, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the explosions were caused by four teenage suicide bombers who attacked the location called Muna garage, which has been repeatedly attacked by suicide bomber in the last six months.