Two Female Bombers Die In Borno Military Market Blasts

The Borno State Police Commissioner, Damian Chukwu , yesterday said two female suicide bombers died while attempting to infiltrate the military Mammy Market of 333 Artillery on Wednesday night in Maiduguri.

According to him , the first suspect was shot by soldiers at the gate while the other detonated her strapped improvised explosive devices ( IEDs ) , injuring 15 persons who were trooping into the night market. In a statement in Maiduguri, Chukwu said the shot suspect was trying to buy a ticket to gain entrance into the market where troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole socialise.

The CP said the bomb exploded and killed the first suspect, while the second bomber detonated her explosives inside a tricycle. He noted that the driver of the tricycle fled the scene of the twin bomb blasts.

The statement reads in part: “As a result of the blasts , the two bombers died instantly while 15 persons were injured and rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“Meanwhile, the scene of the incident has been sanitised by a team of EOD personnel and normalcy has been restored."

The police chief assured the public of the commitment of the force to protect lives and property . He urged the people to be vigilant and report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies for prompt action . However , the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj- Gen. Rogers Nicholas , has announced a N5 million reward for informants who expose locations where explosives are manufactured in Borno , Adamawa and Yobe states.

Twenty - five suspected suicide bombers have already been arrested in Maiduguri, Konduga , Bama and Madagali town in Adamawa State . During a news conference in Maiduguri , Nicholas said the spate of killings and attacks in the state suggests that there could be factories that are manufacturing improvised explosive devices ( IEDs ) in any of the cities and towns of the North East region.

Even though Borno State is the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency , the region , however , comprises Adamawa , Bauchi , Taraba , Gombe and Yobe states.

According to him , the military and other security agencies in the region are doing their best to protect lives and property . “ In the last six months since I assumed office at the Theatre Command , one million people have been rescued by the Army , ” he said .

He further disclosed that with the improved security in Borno State , four main roads , covering a distance of 534 kilometres , have been cleared for motorists , adding that the 54 -kilometre Dikwa - Gambouru /Ngala border road was yet to be cleared by troops. Nicholas enjoined residents of the liberated communities to get fully in securing their settlements , lives and property . He added : “ To sustain peace in the liberated communities of Borno State , the returning internally displaced persons (IDPs ) along with local authorities must develop their security apparatus. “ These also include the Neighbourhood Watch in Maiduguri MetropolitanCouncil (MMC ) and Jere council areas of the state . ”