By Blogger
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| Members of the Civilian-JTF cordoning the spot where a teenage suicide bomber detonated self near Maiduguri market |
Police and health officials have confirmed to newsmen that at least 55 persons have been killed and 146 others got injured by five different bomb explosions detonated by suicide bombers, mostly females, in Maiduguri town on Saturday.
The first bomber, a young girl that was driven to Baga fish market detonated herself at the crowded gate of the market killing 19 persons and injuring over 70 others. It occurred at about 11am.
The second blast occurred at about an hour later when a suicide bomber identified by members of the Civilian-JTF tried to evade checking but was forcefully grabbed by some of the youth vigilante members who died with him as he detonated the bomb when they were struggling to prevent him from going into the market.
A third blast occurred just some few minutes at the other flank of the market when a girl in her early teens blasted her self and caused many others to be killed at a crowded sport where Kolanuts and other commodities were being sold.
The fourth blast which occurred just about two hours after the first one occurred at a mass transit terminus known as Borno Express when another female suicide bomber blew herself and many others off.
The fifth blast occurred at a military checkpoint the Kano-Maiduguir highway in a town called Benisheik which is just some 75km away from Maiduguri
At least 55 persons were confirmed dead and 146 others seriously injured as Boko Haram suicide bombers invaded Maiduguri, the Borno state capital and carried out multiple bombings in various commercial areas, PREMIUM TIMES reports.
Borno state police commissioner, Mr Clement Adoda confirmed this figure to journalists who spoke with him on phone.
The suicide bombings occurred in four different spots in Maiduguri, while one other occurred at a military checkpoint at a town called Benisheik, 75km away from Maiduguri.
“We had multiple blasts today in Maiduguri and sadly about 54 persons were killed and many were injured”, said the police commissioner.
Borno state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu, who was one of the visible government functionary in town when the blasts occurred said he was able to go round the hospitals and take inventory of those injured.
“We had 143 injured persons and 32 killed in the hospitals that we went to see the victims”, he said
He added that he was directed by Governor Kashim Shettima to ensure that all the victims of the attacks are adequately taken care of described the attack as "heinous, barbaric and desperation by terrorists."
According to him, "We condemn this act in its entirety and we extend our condolences to the victims. Based on the directive of his Excellency, Governor Kashim Shettima who is on working tour in the southern part of the state, we have mobilized health workers to assist the victims.
“The terrorists are angry with the way they were sacked from town and villages and are now venting their anger on soft targets, “he said.
Shehu said the Borno State government will remain determine in ensuring that security agents are adequately supported to carry out the onerous duty of securing the lives of the people.
“Governor Shettima has directed that all the victims of the attacks should be treated immediately and the state government will foot the bills. We have directed all our doctors, including those that are not on duty to report to their places of work immediately,” the commissioner said.
Borno governor, Shettima put off campaign over the Maiduguri blasts
By Ola’ Audu
Governor of Borno state, Mr Kashim Shettima, had today suspended his reelection campaigns that took him away from the state capital for days now, to return to Maiduguri in order to commiserate with the victims of the market places blasts, a statement from his spokesman, Mr Isa Gusau said.
The statement which emailed to journalists reads in part; “The Governor condemned the attacks in strong terms and those who perpetuated them while condoling with families and friends of those that lost their lives and commiserated with those who sustained injuries.
“Shettima who was in Hawul local government area earlier today stopped the APC from making campaign speeches and instead, led prayers for repose of victims of the bomb blast before he launched a free feeding programme to ease hardships faced by residents there arising from insurgency crisis across Borno State.
“The Governor has immediately after getting information about the incidence, directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice whose Ministry deals with citizens rights, to visit all affected areas and ensure speedy evacuation of victims to hospitals and mobilize medical doctors for emergency treatments that will be shouldered by the State Government. The, Governor directed that all necessary steps be taken to safe lives where possible no matter what is required .
“Shettima expressed agony over the latest attacks and others in recent and previous times, describing them as acts of evil that have no justification in Islam”
“Shettima said he will be holding an emergency meeting with different stakeholders in markets, motor parks and other public places to take new measures aimed at enhancing security in public places while he called on residents to patiently support whatever measures that will be taken in collective interest.
“Governor Shettima urged citizens to be calm but security conscious and to report suspicious persons and movements to security agencies and youth volunteers around them”, the statement reads.
Power minister,Wakil, calls for global condemnation over Maiduguri blasts
By Ola’ Audu
The minister of states for Power Mr Muhammed Wakil has condemned the multiple suicide booming incidents that occurred in his home state capital, Maiduguri where hundreds of persons were reported to have been killed or injured.
Speaking in a statement said to be personally signed by him but issued to the press by his spokesman, Mr Olawale Rasheed, said the “renewed bombings of civilian targets in Maiduguri should be documented by the international human rights organisations and indict Boko Haram leaders for crime against humanity”.
"The targets of Boko Haram are women ,children and the elderly. Bombing civilian targets is a crime against humanity. I call on Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch and other similar groups to deploy resources towards documenting for indictments the leaders of Boko Haram. Boko Haram leaders should face trial at the ICC", the minister said.
While commiserating with the families and victims of the bombings,the minister appealed to civilains to be extra vigilant as defeated insurgents may have infiltrated some other areas. " We must be extra vigilant. We must be on guard all the time . All suspicious movements and objects should be reported to the police and other security personnel immediately", the minister advised.
According to Wakil,the indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets is a confirmation that the Boko Haram is defeated in conventional field and is now resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets.
" As I commend our gallant military and security personnel over ongoing successes ,I again call on them to redouble their efforts towards blocking access to soft targets even while routing the insurgents in conventional battle",the minister said.
Four different blasts that happened within two hours in different parts of Maiduguri the Borno state capital have today killed over 40 persons and injured several others, security sources and witnesses.
The firsts blast occurred at the Baga road fish market gate at exactly 11:15am when a suicide bomber in a commercial tricycle detonated himself killing several persons.
The second one occurred near Maiduguri main market by an unidentified suicide bomber.
Minutes after that a third one occurred at a crowded outskirts of the market where cola nut is being sold when a girl in her early teens blew herself and killed several others.
The fourth blast later occurred near the Borno Express Transport Corporation terminus at about 1PM killing several person and injuring many others.
Security personnel and health workers were working themselves busy evacuating corpses and conveying corpses to the hospital.
Heavy security checks by members of the Civilian-JTF and soldiers had caused a heavy gridlock in the town.
A mortuary attendant at the state Specialists Hospital Maiduguri, said the casualties in the first blast were 36 dead persons and and 75 others.
"We received 36 dead persons and 75 injured ones before our facilities here got filled up; so we asked the health workers helping in evacuating the injured ones from the scenes of the other blasts to take the casualties to other hospitals - I cannot give figures for other hospitals".
Sources at the Mamman Snuwa Nursing Home Hospital, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Umoru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital where some of the victims were taken have not arrived at figure even as rescue workers are saying "the casualty is high".
This is the first major blast in Maiduguri in two months after the first one that killed many when teenage suicide bomber killed herself and 20 others at a Maiduguri market on the 11th of January.
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