BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
At least 12 persons including suicide bombers were killed, while 18 others were injured in a coordinated multiple suicide bomb attacks on Mamanti, Molai General Area and Cimar area in the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
Briefing newsmen in his Office, the Borno state Police Commissioner Mr. Damain Chukwu said “yesterday Sunday 16/7/2017, at about 2359hrs, Nigerian Army troops deployed at Mamanti village, Molai general area, Konduga LGA, outskirt of Maiduguri township, intercepted two teenage female suicide bombers trying to infiltrate the village through the parapet ahead of the village. The bombers were engaged by the troops after being challenged, which resulted in the detonation of their suicide vests, killing only the two suicide bombers. No other casualty was recorded.
“ Also at about 0149hrs of today 17/7/2017, Nigerian Army troops deployed between Cimari community and No Man’s Land, Magazine LGA, outskirt of Maiduguri township, intercepted a female suicide bomber trying to infiltrate the community through the parapet ahead. The suicide bomber in an attempt to escape, was shot by the troops. As a result of which the suicide vest on her body exploded killing the bomber only,” the CP added.
Mr. Chukwu also said “at about 04:30hrs of same date, a female suicide bomber attempted to enter a mosque in London Ciki area, Jere LGA, outskirt of Maiduguri township. In the process, she detonated PBIED on her body killing herself and eight others, while eighteen other persons sustained injuries.”
He stated that Police EOD teams were promptly deployed to the scenes to sanitize and render the scenes and vicinities safe for normal activities to continue, adding that the corpses and the injured persons were evacuated to University of Maiduguri teaching hospital.
Meanwhile, Operation Lafiya Dole theater has called on the general public to be wary of new tactics adopted by Boko Haram insurgents.
Operation Lafiya Dole in a press statement signed by its spokesman Col Nwachukwu Onyema said “following regular interception of Boko Haram terrorists suicide bombers by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE and the serial failures that have trailed their suicide bomb attacks, recent developments indicate that the terrorist group is now exploiting deceptive tactics to lure unsuspecting members of the public to target areas before detonating their suicide bombs in order to attain maximum casualty.
He said “It has been observed that one of the tactics employed by the terrorists is to create a scene such as fighting with each other or any other person to attract attention and cause people to gather around them before they detonate their suicide bombs. Another antic is by abducting children who are on errands, strapping them with suicide vests and sending them back home, where the suicide bomb detonates to kill members of the household.”
“These deceptive tactics have been found to have played out in recent suicide bomb attacks carried out by the Boko Haram terrorists,” the statement added.
The statement therefore urged members of the general public to be wary of these tactics and avoid such unnecessary gatherings that could expose them to preventable danger, stressing that all parents and adults are advised to sensitize their children and wards on these new Boko Haram tricks.
