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Tag: Suicide bombers

  • This is suicide bombers’ latest trick, DHQ warns Nigerians

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday warned residents of the Northeast to be security conscious about female suicide bombers who may  disguise as nursing mothers in the desperate bid to avoid detection by security personnel.

    The military authorities in a statement asked the public to cooperate with security agencies carrying out “thorough security search and checks”, explaining that the traffic gridlock at military check points were not meant to cause public discomfort.

    “Female suicide bombers are now evading detection from security operatives by carrying babies on their back, that ordinarily passes them for innocent nursing mothers,” the statement  said,adding:“The two recent suicide bomb attacks in Madagali, Adamawa state, are instructive in this regard.

    “Members of the public are therefore urged to always volunteer useful information to the military and other security agencies that would assist in exposing Boko Haram and their evil machinations in our society and to make our communities safe and secure for all to live.”

    Suicide bombing has been the major challenge of security forces in the region.

  • Army offers N500,000 reward on suicide bombers

    Army offers N500,000 reward on suicide bombers

    The Nigerian Army yesterday announced a reward of the sum of N500,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of a suicide bomber, the guide to the suicide bomber, or discovery of the transit house or factory of the suicide bombers.
    Following the spate of spate of suicide bombings in the North East and in particular, Maiduguri and Madagali metropolis which is assuming a disturbing proportion, Army Director of Public Information, Brigadier General Sani Usman said the reward is? to further encourage law abiding citizens to actively join the war against terrorists and our collective security.
    General Usman also revealed the official numbers of contact persons in the Operation Lafiya Dole as follows: Theatre Commander, Operations LAFIYA DOLE, Maiduguri- 09064823221, General Officer Commanding 7 Division Maiduguri- 09078599985, Commander, 7 Division Garrison Maiduguri-08022375305, Commander, 28 Brigade, Mubi-08065504576, Commander, 26 Brigade, Gwoza-+234 809 721 1700 (WhatsApp), Director, Army Public Relations, Abuja-07080217992, Commander, 7 Division Military Intelligence Brigade Maiduguri-09021668444.
    Usman: “We would like to reassure that all information received would be treated with utmost confidentiality and acted upon with despatch.
    “While we appreciate the cooperation of the members of the general public so far, there is the need to be more vigilant and security conscious to save lives and apprehend Boko Haram terrorists and their sponsors.
    “Once again we call on all law abiding citizens to provide useful information to security agencies towards a quicker apprehension of remnants of terrorists still bent on unleashing mayhem on Nigerians.”

  • Two female bombers die in Borno

    The Borno Police Command has confirmed the death of two female suicide bombers, who blew themselves up in an attempt to invade Maiduguri, the state capital.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Victor Isuku, disclosed this to journalists on Monday in Maiduguri.

    He said the suicide bombers were halted at the outskirt of the state capital.

    “At About 2030hrs on Sunday, two female suicide bombers were halted to stop for routine check at Geleri village which is about five km to Muna Garage, near Maiduguri, “the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the PPRO as saying on the matter.

    “One of the suicide bombers detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strapped to her body, killing her and her accomplice, whose IED vest did not detonate.

    “Three residents of the area were, however, injured.

    “The police rushed to the scene to render the unexploded IED safe.

    “The area, however, has been secured and normalcy restored.”

     

  • Two female suicide bombers attack north Cameroon town

    Two young female suicide bombers attacked a town in Cameroon’s Far North region early on Thursday, authorities said, the fourth strike near the Nigerian border by suspected Boko Haram militants this week.

    One of the bombs exploded in Mora, killing the girl and wounding at least four people, said Babila Akaou, prefect of the Mayo-Sava department.

    Locals killed the second bomber before her device detonated, he added, without going into further details.

    Fighters from Boko Haram have killed thousands in their campaign to carve out an Islamist state in their base in northeast Nigeria and have also launched attacks in neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

    The group has frequently used female bombers and children to hit targets.

    The two girls, aged between 13 and 18, entered the town early on market day and were spotted by a watch committee, said Akaou.

    “They were heading toward the market. They weren’t wearing shoes … which drew attention,” said a local named Abou. The girls passed by him around 7 a.m., he said.

    Suicide bombers have launched attacks in Mora, about 30 km (20 miles) from the Nigerian border, several times before.

    Similar attacks used to happen on an almost daily basis in Cameroon but the International Crisis Group reported this month that the frequency had fallen since September, leading analysts to believe Boko Haram was weakening there.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Police foils suicide attacks on Catholic Church in Maiduguri 

    Two suicide bombers were in the early morning of Friday averted from wreaking havoc on Saint Hilary Catholic Church, Maiduguri located at Jidari Polo area.

    The church and the check point where the suicide bombers were apprehended is not far from the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese.

    A security source informed that the bombers were apparently heading for the church targeting early morning worshipers who normally come for morning mass.

    One of the priests who does not want his name mentioned said the sound of the exploded bomb shook the their building and sent everyone in fear of a possible Boko Haram attack.

    “We heard a loud bang which shook our entire building. I thought we were under a Boko Haram attack until I latter found out it was suicide bombers that exploded at the check point,” the priest informed.

    Our Correspondent gathered Student of the  school managed by the Catholic Church Stayed away From coming to school  because of the blast.

    The Borno state police spokesman Victor Isuku who confirmed the incident disclosed that the suicide bombers, two females and one male tried to penetrate a mobile police check point at Jidari Polo but were prevented before one of them blew of herself killing the second bomber while the other female was arrested.

    He also added that normalcy has been restored in the area after police EOD successfully diffuse the live IEDs on the bodies of the dead suicide bombers.

    Mr.  Isuku said, “By 3:50am today,  mobile police personnel on guard duty  opposite the federal high court, sighted three suspected suicide bombers (2females & a male) running towards their sandbag. They ordered them to a halt for questioning.

    “In the process, one of them detonated the IED strapped to her body, killing herself and one other male accomplice. The other female survivor was arrested alive and subsequently handed over to the military for further exploitation and necessary follow up actions.

    “Police bomb disposal units also mobilized to the scene to detonate unexploded IEDs on the bodies of the deceased suicide bombers.

    “The second bang was as a result of the demolition of the remaining IEDs by police EOD units. Normalcy has already been restored,” Isuku explained.

  • Eight suicide bombers die at checkpoint blast

    Eight suicide bombers die at checkpoint blast

    Eight suicide bombers  in a Pick-up van have detonated their bombs, killing themselves in a failed attempt to cross a military checkpoint at Gubio, Gubio Local Government of Borno State, the Army has said.

    According to a statement by Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman, the incident occurred about 9.15 am yesterday.

    He said the insurgents got frustrated after troops insisted on searching the vehicle, and one of them detonated his Improvised Explosive Device (IOD).

    The statement reads: “Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed in a checkpoint in Gubio, Gubio Local Government of Borno State, about 9.15am this morning (yesterday), foiled a suicide attack on Gubio town by eight insurgents.

    “The suicide bombers, who came in a Bedford Pick-up van, attempted to force their way through but were resisted by troops, who insisted that the vehicle be checked.

    “They refused and detonated one of the suicide vests, killing eight of them.”

    Troops of 8 Task Force Division, during Operation Hardknock, have rescued 19 women and 19 children from the northern axis of Borno.

    A statement by its Deputy Director, Army Public Relation, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said: “The troops of 8 Task Force Division have begun an operation, codenamed “Operation Hardknock,’’  to clear pockets of Boko Haram terrorist hiding in remote areas of northern Borno, along the Nigeria-Niger border.

    “As the operation progressed, troops cleared pockets of insurgents from their hideouts in Momo and Tunshe villages around Marte general area.

    “The troops rescued 19 women and 19 children in Dumba. During the rescue operation, the troops neutralised six insurgents while others fled with gunshot wounds, leaving behind 22 motorcycles, flags and other items.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Eight suicide bombers blown off at military check point

    Eight suicide bombers blown off at military check point

    …Troops rescued 38 women and children held captive by Boko Haram

     

    Eight Boko Haram suicide bombers loaded in a pick-up van detonated themselves in a failed attempt to cross over a military check point at Gubio town, Gubio Local Government of Borno State, the Army has said.

    According to a statement by the Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman, the incident occurred at about 9.15am on Tuesday at a check-point when the suicide bombers got frustrated after troops insisted on searching the vehicle before one of them detonated his explosive ridden bodies killing the rest of his colleagues.

    Gubio town is 80 km away from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital

    The statement reads: “Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed at a checkpoint in Gubio, Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State at about 9.15am this morning, foiled a suicide attack on Gubio town by 8 Boko Haram terrorists.

    “The suicide bombers who came in a Bedford pick up vehicle primed with Improvised Explosive Devices including suicide vests attempted to force their way through the checkpoint but met stiff resistance from troops who insisted that the vehicle be thoroughly checked.

    “The suicide bombers refused and blew up themselves by detonating one of the suicide vests killing all the 8 Boko Haram terrorists on board,” the statement said.

    Earlier today, nine people were killed in a car explosion along Gubio road in Maiduguri.

    The Police State Public Relation Office DSP Victor Isuku told our correspondent that “There was an explosion today along Gubio road just before the military check point.

    “According to preliminary report, a pick up van with nine persons onboard, emerged from a bush path to join the road to Gubio town, when it exploded killing all the persons onboard,” DSP Isuku said.

    In another development, troops of 8 Task Force Division through operation HARDKNOCK have rescued 19 women and 19 children from the northern axis of Borno State where the clearance of Boko Haram remainants is ongoing.

    In a statement signed by the Deputy Director Army Public Relation 8 Task Force Division said: “The troops of 8 Task Force Division has commenced an Operation codenamed Operation HARDKNOCK to clear pockets Boko Haram terrorist hiding in remote areas of northern Borno State, along Nigeria-Niger borders.

    “As the operation progresses, troops have cleared pockets of insurgents from their hideouts in Momo and Tunshe villages around Marte general area Borno state.

    “The troops have rescued 19 women and 19 children held hostages in Dumba village by the terrorists. During the rescue operation, the troops neutralized 6 Boko Haram insurgents while others fled with gunshot wounds leaving behind 22 motorcycles, flags and other items”.

  • Taliban announces start of spring offensive in Afghanistan

    The Taliban has announced the start of their spring offensive on Tuesday.

    The offensive tagged “Operation Omari”, was named after the late Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.

    The Taliban, in a statement released in Helmand, pledged to launch large-scale offensives against government strongholds backed by suicide and guerrilla attacks to drive Afghanistan’s Western-backed government from power.

    It read that “Jihad against the aggressive and usurping infidel army is a holy obligation upon our necks and our only recourse for re-establishing an Islamic system and regaining our independence’’.

    The Taliban statement said further that as well as suicide and tactical attacks, the operation would include assassinations of enemy commanders in urban centres.

    “The present Operation will also employ all means at our disposal to bog the enemy down in a war of attrition that lowers the morale of the foreign invaders and their internal armed militias.’’

    In line with recent statements, it also said it would establish good governance in areas it controlled as well as avoiding civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

  • Army intercepts two suicide bombers in Borno

    Army intercepts two suicide bombers in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Friday said it had averted another blast in Borno following the interception of two suspected suicide bombers near Maiduguri.

    Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, said this in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Usman said that the interception was done in collaboration with the local vigilantes, popularly known as civilian JTF.

    “The ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF, averted yet another suicide attack on the innocent citizens in Borno on Friday.

    “The troops intercepted 2 female suicide bombers at about 1.20 this morning, almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri,” he said.

    Usman added:“ However, one of the suicide bombers on sighting our troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself instantly, while the second bomber in an attempt to escape was gunned down by one of the Garrison snipers.’’

    “The combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team safely detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices strapped on the gunned down suicide bomber.

    “It is important to state that there was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers. Presently, the troops and the Civilian JTF deployed in the village are now combing the general area to forestall further breach of security.

    “The situation in the area is calm and law abiding citizens are going about their normal activities without fear,’’ the statement read in part.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroun troops free trainee suicide bombers

    Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroun troops free trainee suicide bombers

    Nigerian and Cameroonian forces have freed several hundred hostages including young girls who were being trained as suicide bombers in a border town held by the terror sect Boko Haram, the commander of Cameroonian forces said yesterday.

    Soldiers from the two countries also killed about 100 militants while liberating of Kumshe, Gen. Jacob Kodji told The Associated Press. The town is 15 kilometers from the border with Cameroon.

    “Our boys are still on the field with Nigerian soldiers and have received instructions to continue raids on all Boko Haram border villages until we defeat them,” the general said.

    Boko Haram began its insurgency six years ago in Nigeria, and has since expanded to the countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad as those neighbors have aided the military effort to quash the extremists.

    The jihadist group, which has pledged its loyalty to the Islamic State group, has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.8 million in West Africa, according to the United Nations and Amnesty International.