Bomb-laden Vehicle Destroyed in Konduga, Female Bomber Caught in Maiduguri

04 Dec 2014

 Nigerian troops

• 24-hour curfew relaxed in Damaturu as death toll rises to 150

By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Provoked by the daring antics of terrorists in the North-east, the Nigerian troops have continued to rain devastating blows on their (terrorists’) hideouts and escape routes.

In a statement on Wednesday, PRNigeria said Nigerian troops in Konduga, Borno State, destroyed a vehicle laden with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) meant for suicide bombing operations by the terrorists.

This is the latest incident in a series of recent attempts being made by terrorists to make incursions into the town and other surrounding communities. Kodunga is 30 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

PRNigeria gathered that while an undisclosed number of terrorists were killed, no military personnel or civilian was affected in yesterday’s incident.

A top military source urged residents to always report suspicious movements as well as strange people to the appropriate authorities for investigation and appropriate action.

He said: “What we need from Nigerians is their support, their encouragement and prayers to enable us overcome this insanity from unrepentant terrorists!”

In another incident, a teenage female suicide bomber was caught heading towards the Maiduguri market, which has already been hit twice within a week by female suicide bombers, said witnesses.

According to Associated Press (AP), the young woman was stopped at a road block run by a civilian defence group and when searched, she reluctantly lifted her hijab to reveal explosives strapped to her abdomen, Muhammed Abbas, an official of the Nigeria Vigilante Group in Maiduguri said.

Nigeria’s homegrown Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, has increasingly been using young female suicide bombers and has accelerated their violence in north-eastern Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Yobe State Government on Tuesday relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state capital, Damaturu, following the siege to the town by Boko Haram members on Monday.

Effective Wednesday, the curfew will only be in place from 6 pm to 7 am daily.

In a statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Abdullahi Bego, the state government said: “This is to inform members of the general public that following discussions with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state in which the ongoing security efforts within Damaturu metropolis were reviewed, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved a review of the 24-hour curfew imposed earlier on the town today.

“As from Wednesday 3rd December, 2014, the curfew will start from 6 pm to 7 am daily.”

The state government said the curfew hours would be reviewed again on the basis of recommendations from the heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.

However, as the residents of Damaturu try to resume life after the daring attack on the city, a senior rescue official in the state has revealed that more than 150 people, including 38 police, died in the Boko Haram raid of last Monday.

A senior rescue official and a medical source at the city’s Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital said 115 bodies were brought to the morgue after Monday’s attack, although it was not clear whether they were insurgents or civilians, reported the AFP.

All 115 were in civilian clothing, but it was not certain whether they were all non-combatants, the sources said. Among the dead were two medical doctors, a staff member of the federal polytechnic in the Yobe State capital, and his two children.

Six soldiers were also killed, the source added. Emmanuel Ojukwu, spokesman for the Nigeria Police, said: “Out of the police, we have 38 deaths.”

Most of the police killed were at the mobile police base in the Gujba Road area of the city, Ojukwu said, confirming eyewitness testimonies from residents that the facility was attacked.

One local, Umar Sada, said the gunmen, who began their attack at 4.45 am on Monday, burnt down the police barracks.

The heavy loss of lives came after an increase in mass casualty attacks blamed on the militants.
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