Residents of Maiduguri in Borno State woke up on Saturday with yet another horrible experience as two suicide explosion was recorded at two sperate places in the troubled city.
The first one occurred around the office of the DSS in Maiduguri. The area is just few meters to the popular Borno Express bus terminal.
Eyewitnesses said the suicide bomber rode in a tricycle as a passenger and difused the bomb.
Casualty figures is still unknown, security forces are condoning off the area.
Another explosion went off by PHCN office near another bus terminal, Adamawa sunshine express around Monday market.
Details of casualty figure remain sketchy at the moment.
Tag: Suicide
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Breaking: Double suicide attack in Maiduguri
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Five killed in Borno hospital suicide blast
No fewer than five people were killed at the weekend after a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a leprosy hospital on the outskirts of Maiduguri, according to emergency services.
Ten others were injured in the attack.
The bomber, who tried to gain access to the hospital, detonated his explosives outside the building around 5:30 pm on Saturday.
“Five people were killed and 10 others injured near the Molai leprosy hospital when a male bomber blew himself up,” said Mohammed Kanar, regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency.
“The bomber had wanted to get entry into the hospital but was contemplating how to pass through security checks at the gate when the bomb went off.”
He added: “We took the bodies and the injured to the specialist hospital (in Maiduguri).”
Local resident Ibrahim Bulama said the bomber was one of three men who were dropped off near the hospital by a SUV vehicle.
“They looked around for a while, obviously trying to sneak into the hospital,” Bulama said, adding that the facility was being guarded by civilian vigilantes who are assisting the military in the fight against Boko Haram Islamist insurgents.
“Suddenly, the explosives on one of them went off. The other two fled in the confusion. Five people were killed and 10 others injured.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, but Nigeria’s Borno state, where the attack took place, has been the hardest hit by the Boko Haram insurgency which has left at least 15 000 people dead.
Boko Haram, which has been fighting to establish a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria since 2009, has intensified its campaign of violence in the last month.
Danlami Ajaokuta, a civilian vigilante fighting Boko Haram, confirmed the hospital explosion and added that there had been a failed suicide attack by two women in Jakarna village, about 40 kilometres from Maiduguri on Saturday afternoon.
“Two female suicide bombers died when the explosives on one of them went off prematurely while they were waiting for a bus along the highway in Jakarna,” Ajaokuta said.
“Residents from the village heard a huge explosion and when they arrived at the scene they found one of the bombers in parts while the other lay dead face down.
“Her explosives were still intact.”
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Four injured in Borno Boko Haram suicide attack
•Sect members loot food stuff in Yobe villages
A suicide bomber yesterday hit the Kasuwan-Gamboru market near the Nigeria Customs House in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, injuring four people. Only on Saturday, a suicide bomber killed 16 in a mosque in the same city.
An official of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) Abbas Gava said the explosives may have been concealed in some sacks of charcoal. He said one of the injured lost a hand. The Gamboru market has suffered several of such attacks in the last three years
A witness said the bomb exploded at about 1.pm when most of the traders were gearing up for the days sales.
According Hasimu Bello, the bomb must have been buried on the spot the previous day.
“It was suspected to have been buried near the spot where charcoal traders sell. We believe that they buried the explosives maybe yesterday,” :Hashimu said.
.”Four persons sustained injury; but one has more serious injury because one of his arm was cut off by the bomb.”
The insurgents appear to have re launched their dastardy campaign although President Muhammadu Buhari has warned he won’t tolerate their activities. He has even moved the central command of the military to Maiduguri until Boko Haram is conquered.
Also at the weekend, members of the sect attacked two Yobe towns – Fika and Ngalda – carting away foodstuff.
The extremists shot sporadically upon their arrival to scare away people so as to have ample opportunity to loot.
Chairman of Fika Local Government Area Alhaji Baba Abare, told reporters yesterday that the major targets of the militants were shops in which they looted food items and beverages.
He said nobody was killed.
A resident of the area,one Ibrahim Mohammed, told reporters that the terrorists first launched an attack on Ngalda, which is the Yobe/Gombe border town.
He said they proceeded from Ngalda to Fika town, the headquarters of Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The resident said the gunmen also attacked the local government secretariat, the magistrate court and the Divisional Police station.
Yobe State Police Commissioner Markus Danladi, declined to comment on the attack, saying the Military Joint Task Force was the only body that was in a better position to comment on the development.
Senator Ali Ndume, Borno South yesterday praised President Muhammadu Buhari for directing the military high command to relocate to Maiduguri and concentrate on the fight against insurgents.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the move was a ‘right step in the right direction’.
“For people like us that had been in the fore-front, looking for solutions to the problem of insurgency, it is a heart-warming development.
“We have been anticipating that immediately he(Buhari) takes over, he will do something drastic and effective, in making sure that the issue of insurgency comes to an end,” Ndume said.
“With the new directives, we are hoping that insurgency in Borno and other states will come to an end sooner or later.
“With the good intention of the president, we are very optimistic that this madness will come to an end soonest,” he said.
Alhaji Jubrin Gunda, a legal practitioner and a former chairman of the Biu branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) spoke in the same manner.
“The action is highly commendable. If the military high command moves to Borno, there will be no room for excuses or failure, like we witnessed in the past,” he said.
Gunda, who is also the Legal Adviser of the Civilian JTF, said that it was certain that the military would wipe out the insurgents in a short time.
“The military will wipe out the insurgents in a couple of days or weeks. It is indeed a right step in the right direction,” Gunda said.
He said that stakeholders in the state had been waiting anxiously for the inauguration of Buhari as the president.
“Everybody must commend the president for taking such a laudable step towards tackling the insurgency.
“If you go round the state, you will see people in high spirit; we are all hoping that the insurgency will be crushed soon,” he added.
Mallam Iliya Ibrahim a businessman, appealed to the president to strictly monitor the operation of the military against the insurgents, to avert failure, similar to what was experienced in the past.
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Suicide bomber dies in attempt to blow off bridge
A suicide bomber targeting a military check point near a bridge in Benisheikh, headquarters of Kaga Local Government, at the weekend went off midway before his target, killing himself, eyewitnesses have said.
A security source, who does not want to be mentioned, said the bomber was apparently targeting the soldiers and the bridge so as to cut cut-off movement in and out of Maiduguri.
The Benishiekh bridge is one of the major bridges on the Kano/Jos/Damaturu Maiduguri Highway, the only safe route to Maiduguri from all axes, as other roads have been taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents.
An eyewitness in Benisheikh (Abdurahaman, not real name) said: “Yesterday after Zuhr prayers, a Volkswagen Golf car, dark ash, was seen driving towards the military and civilian JTF check points before the bridge after the GSS Benishiekh. Before it could reach the military check point, the vehicle exploded in the middle of the road, killing the driver who was alone in the car and suspected to be a suicide bomber,” he said.
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Suspected suicide bomber lynched in Bauchi
An angry crowdat a market in Bauchi yesterday beat up a teenage girl to death after accusing her of being a suicide bomber.
The police and witnesses said she was set ablaze.
A second suspect, also a teenage girl, was arrested at Muda Lawal, the biggest market in Bauchi city.
A spate of suicide bombings has been attributed to Boko Haram Islamic extremist group, which wants to enforce strict Islamic laws across Nigeria.
The group has threatened to disrupt the country’s March 28 presidential and legislative elections, saying democracy is a corrupt Western concept.
In Bauchi, the two girls aroused suspicion by refusing to be searched when they arrived at the gate to the vegetable market, a yam vendor, Mohd Adamu said. “People overpowered one girl and discovered she had two bottles strapped to her body,” he said. “They clubbed her to death, put a tyre doused in fuel over her head and set it on fire,” he added.
“It seems doubtful the girl was actually a bomber, as she did not detonate any explosives when she was attacked,” said Police Deputy Superintendent Mohammad Haruna. He described her as a victim of “mob action carried out by an irate crowd.”
Recently, some girls as young as 10 have been used to carry explosives that detonated in busy markets and bus stations, raising fears that Boko Haram may be using some of its hundreds of kidnap victims in bomb attacks. It’s unclear whether such girls detonate explosions themselves or whether the bombs are controlled remotely.
President Goodluck Jonathan last week condemned the Boko Haram insurgents for choosing soft targets and said the series of bombings were a response to the Nigerian military’s recent success in seizing back scores of towns that had been in the hands of the extremists for months.
A multinational military force, including Nigeria’s neighbours is being formed to stop Boko Haram’s attacks outside Nigeria’s borders.
Some 10,000 people died in Nigeria from Boko Haram’s violence last year, compared to 2,000 in the first four years, according to the United States Council on Foreign Relations. Some 1.5 million people have also been driven from their homes.
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Update: 5 die, 48 wounded in Potiskum suicide attack
A Female suicide bomber has again hit Potiskum, Yobe State targeting a telecommunication market in the city killing four people including the bomber, eyewitness said.
A hospital source told our correspondent on phone that three dead bodies including the suicide bomber were brought in dead to the hospital. The source also disclosed that 48 wounded victims were brought to the hospital and two later died making five dead people.
“At the spot, the bomber killed two people and herself. 48 casualties were brought to the hospital and two later died making five people dead,” he said.
Ibrahim Bulama who has a shop inside the market informed that the young girl walked past him and went meters away and all of a sudden he heard a loud sound.
“I was sitting in front of my shop and I heard a loud sound like a bomb. Myself was thrown aback but I thank God I am alive . I only pray for those that died, for God to grant them rest, he said.
This is the second time a bomber is attacking the GSM Market with the Potiskum
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Female suicide bomber kills 10 in Yobe
The Yobe State Police Command has said 10 people were killed when a female suicide bomber detonated an explosive at the Damaturu Central Motor Park in the state capital.
The police also said 31 others were injured in the incident.
The motor park is located near a divisional police station, which was razed on January 9 by the Boko Haram insurgents.
Police spokesman, Toyin Gbadegesin, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the suicide bomber had made several failed attempts to bomb the military outfit at the park before she boarded a half-loaded car and blew up herself.
The 10 people died on the spot.
Gbadegesin said: “At 12.10 hours, an hijab-wearing female suicide bomber came into the park and went to the security vehicle. She was turned away after her movement aroused suspicion. She then went to a commercial vehicle; the car was half-loaded, and the bomb exploded.
“Ten people died; 31 others were critically injured and are at the Sani Abacha Hospital in Damaturu. We have condoned off the area. Investigation is ongoing.”
The police spokesman added that the suicide bomber was about 21 years old.
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15 killed in Biu suicide blast
Several people are reportedly killed in a suicide attack that took place at a Central Market in Biu town, Biu local government area of Borno State.
Biu is one of the several local government areas that had not been captured by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
The insurgents also suffered a huge loss when they attempted to attack the town last month as they were ambushed by soldiers.
An eye witness, Isa Mohammed, who went to the market to buy commodities, told our correspondent on phone that about seven people were instantly killed during the deadly explosion which took place in a crowded market in the area.
“I was at the gate of the market when the incident occurred. I saw seven dead people being taken to the hospital and many other injured victims were in serious pain,” Mohammed said.
A JTF member who took part in the rescue operation at the market however said that 15 people were killed and taken to the Biu General Hospital.
He added that people are making free blood donation to victims at the hospital.
“We are at the General Hospital Biu helping the people that are injured and brought to the hospital. I just met with one of the doctors and he confirmed that seven people were brought in dead,while eight injured people later died, bringing the number of dead victims to 15. About 21 people are critically injured.
“There is confusion in the town now because youths are attacking PDP flags and saying that it was because Ali Modu Sheriff, the former governor is visiting the town on campaign, that we suffered the bomb attack,” the CJTF operative added.
A witness said the explosion occurred at exactly 3:25pm when the market was at its peak.
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Suicide bomber kills eight in Potiskum
Eight people were killed in Potiskum after a suicide bomber hit the residence of a PDP House of Representatives candidate, Sabo Garbu. Hundreds of supporters gathered for a meeting before the explosions occurred around 1:20pm.
The house is opposite the Federal Government College, Potiskum.
Garbu is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Potiskum/Nangere Federal constituency in next week’s elections.
Residents said the bomber was dressed as a mad man and sneaked into the crowd of supporters in front of the politicians’ house and triggered off his explosives-ridden body, killing eight people on the spot.
“We have evacuated eight bodies including the suicide bomber’s to hospital,” said a police officer at the scene, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Seven others were injured, he added.
Witness Nura Umar, who gave the same death toll, said the bomber emerged from a bus that pulled up in front of the home of Sabo Garbu, who is running for a seat in the lower house on the ruling Peoples Democracy Party ticket.
Hospital sources at the General Hospital Potiskum said six bodies were brought in dead. Many others were injured.
Potiskum, in recent times, have been at the receiving end of such attacks in recent months.
A witness, simple identified as Ali, said the explosive killed six persons on the spot with several others sustaining injuries. Police were yet to confirm the incident as at Press time last night.
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Suicide bomber kills 5, injures 35 at a motor park in Potiskum
A suicide bomber yesterday detonated explosives at a motor park in Potiskum, Yobe State’s commercial town, killing five persons, including himself.
An eyewitness said the bomber was disguised as a passenger and boarded a Vectra Opel car with four other passengers before blowing himself up with the passengers.
But the police, which confirmed the suicide attack, gave a different account of how it all happened.
Commissioner Danladi Marcus said the bomber drove in a Honda car in front of some vehicles conveying passengers before reversing to hit other cars to trigger the explosion.
“From the briefing that I got, the suicide bombers drove to a motor park along Bauchi road near a filling station in Potiskum and went in front of other cars, pretending to be travelling as well. Then all of a sudden, he decided to reverse and hit other cars and immediately, the bomb went off, killing him and four other people,” Marcus said.
He added: “You can see that people are tired of the happenings around. The report I got is that the explosion did not disrupt the normal life in the town. People are going about their normal businesses.
“My call is that we should all be vigilant to fish out the bad people among us by reporting any suspicious movement around us.”
Potiskum is now becoming a hotbed of suicide bombing yesterday’s was the third this month. A blast killed a street vendor on one occasion, and two female suicide bombers killed eight people in coordinated attacks, according to reports.
Many people also died in similar suicide attacks earlier targeted on Shiate Muslims sect and school pupils on assembly grounds last year.