I lost 2 childhood friends, says man who narrowly escaped Borno mosque bombing

Bukar Idris narrowly missed the bombing that killed 25 people near a mosque in Silimanti on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno state, on Monday morning.

But his two childhood friends were not that lucky – and he is now left to mourn the painful loss inflicted by suspected Boko Haram militants.

Idris, a resident of Silimanti, told NAN: “I was lucky to have escaped the attack because I left the place few minutes to fetch something in my house for a friend at the gathering.”

He said he counted at least 20 bodies before aid workers came to the scene.

“I lost two childhood friends,” he said, giving their names as Modu Bushara and Shehu Sawab.”

On Monday, the Borno police command said it could not give the casualty figure,

Victor Isuku, the PPRO, said aid workers were still counting,.

The Nigerian army confirmed that 25 people were killed and 85 others injured in Sunday’s deadly attacks when three of 14 female suicide bombers who attempted to invade Maiduguri blew themselves off.

Yushau Abubakar, a major-general and theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, said the 14 female suicide bombers, who were between the ages of 12 and 18, attempted to enter Maiduguri with the intent to cause mayhem, confusion and panic.

Abubakar, who was represented by Lamidi Adeosun, a major-general and the GOC, 7 Division, said that the girls were intercepted by men of the Nigerian army on patrol.

He said that three of the suicide bombers detonated their improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in their bodies killing 25 persons and injuring 85 others.

He said that the terrorists intended to carry out massive and coordinated suicide missions through Asmari, Damboa checkpoint, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, Jumari villages on the outskirt of Maidugri.

Abubakar said: “Seven other suicide bombers were gunned down by our troops, three escaped and one was arrested.

“I believe this development has averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri.

“One of the girls went to a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque and blew herself off killing one person while 13 others sustained injuries.”

Abubakar said that the insurgents recently ambushed Nigerian troops in Mairaria village on the Maiduguri-Monguno and Firgi road.

He said that 14 insurgents and four soldiers died in the ensuing gun battle.

He said that the capacity of the insurgents to carry out coordinated attacks had been degraded, adding that that was the reason why they were now attacking soft targets and laying ambush on soldiers.

Abubakar appealed to the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.