…As CJTF foils another suicide attack
From: Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
A Boko Haram suicide bomber, pretending to be a cart pusher, has detonated explosive devices at a community near Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, killing three residents.
Residents of Mainari Kanuri village along Damboa/Biu road, a community at the outskirts of Maiduguri said they obseved a strange young man pushing cart early Monday morning. The presence of the supposed cart pusher raised the curiosity of the residents who accosted the man.
The Borno State Police confirmed the explosive devices in the cart suddenly went off, killing the pusher and three other persons around.
“At about 07: 30 hours (am), another suicide bomb incident was foiled at Mainari Kanuri village along Damboa/Biu road in the outskirt of Maiduguri town. A suspected Boko Haram terrorist, disguised as a cart pusher was intercepted by residents of the community. He detonated IED on his cart, killing himself and three nearby civilians, while two other civilians sustained injuries,” a statement from the deputy Public Relations Officer for the Borno State Command, Murtala Ibrahim, an Assistant Superintendent of police, states.
Earlier at about 5:10am at Mamanti village in Jere Local Government near Maiduguri, three female sucide bombers had attempted to sneak into the city but were intercepted by the Civilian JTF men.
“Three female suicide bombers attempted to enter Mamanti village Jere Local Government Area. They were intercepted by Civilian JTF,” Police Commissioner, Damian Chukwu confirmed in a short message to journalists.
He said two of the bombers were gun down by the vigilant security personnel around the area while the third detonated her IEDs which killed her.
“In the process, one of the bombers detonated IED strapped to her body killing herself alone. The other two tried to escape but were shot dead by security personnel on duty,” Chukwu said even as he appealed to residents to be more vigilant.
Boko Haram has stepped up suicide attacks especially in communities around Maiduguri, targeting crowded places. The military in its reaction urged residents to be conscious of their environment, promising to deploy troops and military dogs to the volatile areas for surveillance.