Boko Haram bombs Maiduguri mosque, ‘kills 11’

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect struck inside a mosque in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, on Saturday, killing 11 persons.

Damian Chukwu, commissioner of police in the state, confirmed the incident, saying it happened around  5:40am.

He said two suicide bombers, accompanied by a gunman, infiltrated the mosque located in Kushari village behind old CBN quarters in the ancient city.

Chukwu said security operatives had been deployed in the area while investigation was ongoing.

“On-the-spot assessment at the scene revealed that at about 0540hrs gunmen suspected to be BH terrorists & suicide bombers infiltrated Gwozari/Kushari in Polo general area, Maiduguri shooting sporadically & detonated IEDs strapped to their bodies,” he said.

“Eleven people including three bombers died while fifteen others sustained injuries and are currently hospitalized at the State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri.”

The attack comes four days after insurgents opened fire on the convoy of Kashim Shettima, governor of the state.

Three persons, including a soldier, were reportedly killed in the attack which happened while the governor was on a campaign tour.

Although the federal government has consistently claimed victory over the sect, Boko Haram has continued to attack military locations and hit soft targets in the north-east.