Boko Haram bombs Maiduguri, injures two policemen

Two policemen sustained injuries after a male suicide bomber struck in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, on Thursday night.

The attack happened hours after the insurgents engaged security operatives in a gun battle.

Boko Haram had attempted to infiltrate the ancient city but they were repelled by a combined team of soldiers, air force and policemen.

The two officers who were injured in the suicide attack were part of those who pushed Boko Haram backwards.

The bomber who reportedly hid inside a tree was said to have attacked an armoured patrol vehicle of the Federal special anti-robbery squad stationed at Jidari Polo.

Ismael Audu, a policeman, told TheCable that the attacker took he and his colleagues unaware.

“We killed many of them while others ran with various degrees of injuries,” he said.

“On our way back, a suicide bomber attacked our armoured van and the tires got damaged while two of our men were badly injured. They were rushed to the hospital for treatment. For now, we cannot give any number of casualties in the operation because this happened in the night.”

Earlier, Rogers Nicholas, theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, issued a statement on how security forces prevented capturing of the town.

“Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, in the late hours of Thursday, April 26, 2018; successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorists’ incursion in the outskirts of Jidari Polo area of Maiduguri,” the statement read.

“Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE with the support of the Air Task Force, Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) quickly mobilised to the area and cleared the terrorists incursion.

“The troops are currently in pursuit of the Boko Haram terrorists and dominated the area while also patrolling the general area of Jidari.”