Police confirm 5 fatalities in Maiduguri blast; suicide bomber arrested

ABDULLAHI ISAH, Maiduguri

The Borno Police Command, Sunday, confirmed the killing of five persons in Saturday’s suspected suicide attack near Maiduguri.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderemi Opadokun, made this known at a news conference in Maiduguri, the state capital.

“There was explosion on Saturday at about 0754hrs, when four suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives at Dala Yazaraye village, near Molai on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

“Five persons, including the four suicide bombers died in the explosion.“

Opadokun said that security agents had cordoned off the scene of the blast, which saw four persons injured.

“Four people sustained injury and (have been taken) to the hospital for treatment. The area has been rendered safe by EOD personnel at the scene,“ he stated.

The police commissioner said that investigation into the matter was in progress.

“One of the suicide bombers detonated the IED killing 3 people on the spot, while 3 others were injured but luck run out on the other one, as her bomb did not explode and we immediately disarmed and arrested her. As I am speaking to you we have handed her over to security agencies,’ a member of Civilian JTF, Iliya Ibrahim, told our correspondent.

According to Ibrahim, the incident occurred at about 8:00 am when the 2 suicide bombers stormed the town. One of the female suicide bombers detonated her own killing 3 people, and injuring 4 others, while the second suicide bomber failed as her device failed to explode.

A hospital source told our correspondent on phone that 2 corpses have been brought to the hospital, while four others were receiving medical attention.