… Gov approves N50m for trenches, special guards’ allowances

Sixteen persons were killed after a coordinated suicide bombings at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and Zannari Community in Maiduguri on Sunday night.

Born State Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu , confirmed the deaths.

A witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Maiduguri, that the bombing started around 10:00pm on Sunday.

“The noise of the explosion coming from the university woke us up around 10:00pm. Few minutes after, the explosion spread to other parts of the town, especially around London Ciki,” Mallam Usman Chiroma, a resident of Mairi, near the university, said.

Another resident, Mallam Abdullahi Cirani, who lives around Gidan Dambe corroborated Chiroma’s claim.

“We heard about 10 explosions coming from around the university.

 “The explosion led to a stampede in London Ciki as residents abandoned their homes for fear of being affected,” Cirani said.

He disclosed that most residents in the densely-populated London Ciki slept in the open, near the Gwange Cemetery for fear of being attacked.

But, some residents of Zannari gave a different version of the incident.

Mallam Lawan Modu said the area was invaded by suspected suicide bombers who detonated their explosives in four different locations in the community.

“We heard explosions in four different locations in Zannari, the first explosion happened around 10:30pm.

 “The other explosions took place within short intervals,” Modu said.

He recounted that about 10 people were killed in the attacks.

“So many people were affected, in fact, we evacuated about 10 bodies in the morning. Several others were also injured,” Modu said.

But, Chukwu maintained 16 persons were killed.

“All in all, 16 persons including some suicide bombers died in the multiple suicide attacks, while 13 others were injured.

“Yesterday (Sunday), at about 2221 hours, a male suicide bomber gained entry into the premises of UNIMAID and detonated explosive on his body near the Rapid Response Service office building.

“The bomber died while three university security personnel on duty were injured,” Chukwu said.

He, however, said one of the injured security personnel later died at hospital.

“One of the injured security personnel, a female, known as Becky Edubi, later died at hospital.

“At about 2230 hours, the same night, four female suicide bombers infiltrated Zannari Community in Gwange general area.

“Two of the suicide bombers detonated explosives on their bodies in two different residential buildings killing eight persons and injuring 11 others.

“The third suicide bomber detonated him explosive in another area killing himself alone.

“The forth female suicide bomber was arrested that same night, but she died as a result of injuries she had sustained,” Chukwu said.

The police boss added that another set of bombers later returned to the university, around 0408 hours in the morning.

Meanwhile, Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima has released N50 million to fund dig trenches in the city, as well as support payment of allowances to special guards drawn from local vigilantes who are to work with the military in policing porous areas. 

The trenches are being designed to make it impossible for insurgents to drive into the university and also, create difficulty for  insurgents to cross on foot while the military will take advantage of being at the top to neutralise insurgents.

Shettima said even though the university is a federal institution, it is also part of Borno Government’s responsibility to intervene in securing lives and preventing the desire of insurgents to force the close down of the school.