13 killed, 24 injured in Maiduguri suicide attack

At least 13 people were killed and 24 others injured after three male suicide bombers detonated improvised explosive devices (IED) at Muna area, Maiduguri, Borno state.

Damian Chukwu, commissioner of police in the state, told journalists that the first attack took place at  Goni Kachallari village of Jere council.

He said Muslim faithful were coming out from the mosque when the attack happened.

Chukwu said the second bomber detonated his explosive within the premises of the Chad Basin Development Authority, around 9:30pm.

He said the suicide bomber and three others died.

“The third suicide bomber detonated across the road outside the Chad Basin Development Commission killing himself and one other person,” Chukwu said.

“The police EOD team were promptly dispatched to the scene to sensitise and render the area safe.”

Chukwu added that the insurgents had earlier attacked Alidawari village near Jiddari Polo area.

“The suspected terrorists came through Molai general area, sporadically firing anti-aircraft guns across Jiddari Polo by Federal High Court, Maiduguri,” Chukwu said.

“The insurgents also set some houses and makeshift tents in the neighborhood. The Police comprising the FSARS, CTU, PMF and others, were swiftly deployed to the scene to engage the attack.

“The Army also massively mobilised to repel the attack which lasted for over an hour.

“The command fire service were promptly deployed to put off the burning houses. Also resident who fled homes during the gun battle, later returned in less than two hours after the attack was repelled.

“One of the terrorist was captured and in the custody of the Army. Three terrorists was captured.”

Meanwhile, Abubakar Musa, a resident of Polo, who witnessed the incident, said the attackers struck at the time Muslims were preparing to break their fast.

He added that some women who were relaxing at a makeshift tent of Medecins San Frontiers (MSF) ran for their lives.

“Few minute we saw some soldiers in uniforms running toward us and asking us to run that Boko Haram are coming behind us,” Musa said.

“One of our colleagues who was also sitting with us tried to find out what was going on, but before we knew it he came back running saying multiple of the terrorists were coming on foot and motorcycle.

“On hearing this news, we all took to our heels and scampered for safety into the town.”

Musa said the insurgents looted many homes and that only one of the suspects was killed.

“None of the terrorists was killed except the one who was approaching a checkpoint who was shot and killed,” he said.

“Most of the  insurgents were not killed, or even confronted by any military.

“The insurgents burnt many houses and took foodstuffs. One of our neighbors, a doctor, was hearing them calling their fellow insurgents on the phone to come in.

“They took their time to operate. We found bread and a lot of foodstuffs in some houses as well as their footprint, which shows that they even stayed and broke their fast in people’s house.

“They try to steal an Ash Honda UK but later dumped it  close to a checkpoint where one of the Boko Haram members who was carrying IED was killed.”