28 killed, 85 injured in repelled suicide mission in Maiduguri

BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI

The troops of the Nigerian Army on Sunday repelled what would have been a major disaster when 14 female suicide bombers invaded Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, for a coordinated suicide mission.
Addressing the press at the Operation Lafiya Dole media centre, the theater commander, Major General Yushau Abubakar said “seven suicide bombers were gunned down by our troops, three escaped and one was arrested which I believe has averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri. One of them went to a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque and blew up herself killing 1 person while 13 others were injured.

The commander said 14 female suicide bombers between the ages of 12 and 18 tried to force themselves into Maiduguri with the intent to cause mayhem, confusion and panic but were repelled by the troops of the Nigerian Army on patrol, but unfortunately, he said, three of the suicide bombers detonated the Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, killing 25 persons, while 85 others were injured.

The theater commander, who was represented by the GOC 7 Division, Major General Lamidi Adeosun, said the terrorists intended to carry out a massive and coordinated suicide mission through Asmari, Damboa check point, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, Jumari villages all at the outskirts of Maiduguri.

General Yushau said the insurgents’ capacity to attack has been degraded and that that was why they are now bent on attacking soft targets and laying ambush and appealed to the general public to always be vigilant and report
any suspicious movements to the security outfits nearby.

A hospital source from the State Specialist Hospital confirmed that they received 28 corpses while 88 others were receiving treatment from both Sunday and early Monday attacks.