A bomb blast scene
BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGUIRI
At least 8 persons have died, while 11 are injured in coordinated suicide bomb blasts at the entrance of the Bakasi Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) camp and an NNPC filling station in Damboa road Maiduguri.
The first blast which occurred at about 7.05 am at the entrance of Bakassi IDPs camp was immediately followed by another explosion at the NNPC filling station in Damoa road at about 7.06am, a few kilometres away from the first blast.
An eye witness at the Bakassi camp, Mallam Audu Isah said some suspected female suicide bombers came and ran into some group of people at the entrance of Bakassi camp, when some IDPs were coming out of the camp and detonated their IED, killing several persons, while others were injured.
He said “the thing just happened and security agencies and officials of SEMA and NEMA are currently evacuating the corpses and taking the injured ones to hospitals but nobody can tell exactly how many people died. As I am speaking three more ambulances are evacuating the bodies of the victims.”
Confirming the incident, the Army in a press statement signed by Col Mustapha Anka said “at about 7.05am this morning, there were twin simultaneous suicide bomb explosions at the entrance of Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp and NNPC Mega Filling Station, Damboa Road, Maiduguri.”
According to the statement, at the Bakassi IDPs camp, a suspected female suicide bomber ran into a group of men and women at the entrance while they were coming out of the camp, killing 5 men and injuring 11 women, adding that the bodies of the dead men and the injured women have been evacuated.
While at the NNPC filling station, Col. Anka said “a female suicide bomber followed a fuel tanker in Keke NAPEP tricycle with the sole aim of gaining entry to cause maximum damage and casualty but was prevented from gaining access to the station by another vehicle. In that process, the suicide bomber exploded killing the 3 occupants of the tricycle. No reported injured persons at this instance.”
He said their troops and other security agencies have been mobilized and the injured have been evacuated while efforts are on going to comb the general area as well as entries and exits of Maiduguri.
The Army while commiserating with the families of the late victims of the cruel act, wished those injured speedy recovery.
“We would like to assure the public that efforts are on going to track those behind the dastardly acts. However, it is equally important to reiterate the need for more vigilance and security consciousness among all. Citizens are enjoined to report any suspicious persons or movements to the security agencies.
Meanwhile the Acting GOC 7 Division Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu has since visited the area, commiserated with the victims and called on the general public to always be security conscious.
