‘Mostly children’ killed as suicide bombers strike in Borno (updated)

Not less than 20 persons have been killed by suicide bombers in an attack in Damboa local government area of Borno state.

TheCable learnt the attack was carried out on Saturday by suspected Boko Haram members.

It was gathered that the attackers struck in Abacahri village, along Damboa/Chibok road, while the residents were returning from the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Many were also said to have been injured and are currently receiving treatment in Damboa General Hospital.

Modu-Zannah Maina, the district head of Damboa, told NAN that the incident was “shocking and disturbing,” noting that the attack was perpetrated by female suicide bombers.

Maina said a lot of those affected were mostly children.

“We are here in this hospital to check our people affected by Saturday’s bomb blasts. So far, the victims have been responding to treatment,” he said.

Meanwhile Damian Chukwu, the Borno commissioner of police, said: “On Saturday, at about 2045hrs, an explosion occurred at Abachari area, in the outskirt of Damboa LGA of Borno state.

“At the sound of the explosion, personnel of the Nigeria Police and members of the civilian JTF mobilised to the scene and discovered 20 dead bodies and 48 injured persons in a suspected terrorist attack.

“The wounded and the dead were evacuated to a hospital while the scene was sanitised by a deployment of police EOD unit.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the nature of the attack,” he said.

Yabawa Kolo, chairperson of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), who also confirmed the incident, said the agency had deployed its personnel to evacuate wounded persons to the hospital for quick medical attention.

“Our team has been deployed to render life saving support to the victims of the blast. As you can see, they have been tirelessly working with ICRC since morning to evacuate the injured from the airport to the hospital,” said Kolo.

“We are all saddened by the unfortunate incident that occurred in Damboa.”