8 Killed As 5 Suicide Bombers Hit Maiduguri

The police in Borno State said yesterday that eight people died following multiple suicide blasts in Maiduguri on Sunday.

One of those killed was a member of the Civilian JTF, while five were the suicide bombers.

Suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers struck at different locations late on Sunday. Two deaths from the first suicide bombing were recorded, according to Civilian JTF official, Danbatta Bello.

But the state police command’s spokesperson, Victor Isuku, a Deputy Superintendent, said in a statement yesterday that there were two separate attacks that occurred between 8.20p.m. and 10.30p.m.

Isuku said the first attack was carried out by three males, while the second was an explosion caused by two female suicide bombers.

“At about 2020hrs (10.20pm) (on January 8), there male suicide bombers shot sporadically and attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri via Garki Muna village close to a military checkpoint,” said the spokesperson.

“The IED strapped to their bodies exploded killing all of them, and a Civilian JTF. Two AK47 rifles were recovered, while one was completely destroyed as a result of the explosion.

“Then, about 10.30p.m. same date, there were two suicide bombers attacked at Kaleri area of Gwange. Four persons including two female bombers died in the explosion. Both scenes were swept and rendered safe for public access by personnel from EOD, FSARS and patrol teams of the command in the wee hours of today (yesterday). Normalcy has since returned to these areas,” police said.

Meanwhile, the military has alerted of a new trick by Boko-Haram, whose members now attack residential homes of innocent Nigerians.

In a statement, the Army said the terrorists now pose as visitors by knocking on the doors of private residence and end up detonating Improvised Explosive Device (IED), strapped on their bodies as soon as their victims open the door.

Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division, Colonel Mustapha Anka, who made this known, attributed the recent bombing at Kalari in Maiduguri, to have been carried out by two suspected terrorists who pretended to be visitors to the home of their targeted victim.

He warned the public to be “cautious and wary of strange persons knocking at their doors”.

Anka said: “This is to draw the attention of the general public to recent trend used by desperate remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT). Recently, two female suicide bombers knocked at the door of one Bulama and Usman, about 200 meters apart in Kalari General area of Maiduguri.

“The daughter of the Bulama opened the door, while Usman himself opened his own door immediately the suicide bombers detonated their suicide vest, in the process killing the unsuspected little girl, Usman including the two female suicide bombers.”

Anka, while calling on the public to be always security alert, advised residents to engage in neighborhood watch even as he charged them to report strange movement of persons and objects to security agents without delay.