Suicide bombers kill 18 in Borno — despite ‘improvement of security’

Three suspected suicide bombers have killed at least 18 people and wounded 13 in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.

A female bomber is said to have blown herself at Muna garage killing fishermen, food sellers and passengers heading to Budum area in the state capital.

The incident which reportedly occurred at 8pm on Sunday, made shop owners flee the scene.

Also, two other suicide bombers were also said to have blown themselves up at Muna Dalti – an area close to the gates of an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp.

Confirming the incident, Satomi Ahmad, chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the incident was the “second largest incident” where many lives were lost.

He said those who sustained injuries were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Damian Chukwu, Borno police commissioner, equally confirmed the attack.

The attack comes a day after President Muhammadu Buhari said even the opposition party is aware that security has improved in the north-east.

Buhari this on Saturday at a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi in Turkey.

“We have moved them out from their strongholds in the north-east, we have denied them space and even their attacks on soft targets are becoming less often,” the president had said.

“Even the opposition (party) recognises that there is a considerable improvement of security in the north-east.”