From: Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
A Civilian JTF has been killed while preventing a Boko Haram suicide bomber from entering a community with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State.
Sources said a male suicide bomber, targeting Usmanti, a community hosting many IDPs at Mafa Local Government at the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, early Wednesday morning, was intercepted by a CJTF member and few residents. The bomber, however, detonated explosives on his body in the process, killing the civilian JTF member.
Two other suicide bomb attacks also occurred at different locations near the capital at same time.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Borno State Command, Victor Isuku, said in a statement, adding that the foiled attacks killed the two bombers and two persons.
“About the same time, a male suicide bomber attempted to enter an IDP host Community in Usmanti area in Mafa LGA. He was prevented by the residents, and in the process detonated IED strapped to his body killing himself anad one civilian, while two others sustained injuries,” Isuku disclosed in a press statement.
However, North East information officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Andulkadir Ibrahim, said five people including a Civilian JTF were killed and 11 persons injured in the multiple blasts.
“Three suicide bomb attacks at three different locations in Muna namely Muna Usmanti, Muna garage and Muna Ethopia respectively. The incidence occurred around 4: 11 am which led to 11injured, 5 death. Among the death persons include four suicide bombers and civilian HTC,” he disclosed.
He said the injured persons have been taken to the state hospital by rescue and response personnel for proper medication.
The multiple explosions believed to have been perpetrated by Boko Haram occurred a day after similar suicide attacks by female bombers killed seven including the bombers. Boko Haram has stepped up suicide bomb attacks mostly at the outskirts of Maiduguri, its birthplace in recent time, leading to the death of scores of residents.