Police fear death toll may rise in Maiduguri’s recent multiple suicide bombing

Police fear death toll may rise in Maiduguri's recent multiple suicide bombing

By By Blogger

The police in Borno state have expressed concerns that the death toll recorded in the Sunday evening suicide bombing attack that instantly left 54 persons dead and over 90 others injured may increase. 

As at Monday evening, three other critically injured persons are battling to survive at the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, said the police. 

On Sunday evening, suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a coordinated bomb attacks on Maiduguri city. The casualty recorded was the highest in the recent attacks in the city. 

It was also the first in about a month since the last one was recorded in the town. 

Police Spokesman, Victor Isuku made this known while briefing journalists on the details of casualty recorded in the bestial attack on hapless residents in a crowded suburb of Maiduguri, called Ajilari-Cross, Bintu-Sugar and Ngomari General area. 

The attack in Ajilari-Cross was targeted at a crowded mosque where Muslims were observing the late evening prayer. Eighteen persons were killed instantly while many badly injured ones were rushed to the hospital. 

At a nearby spot called Bintu-Sugar, where residents of the area gather for all kinds of commercial activities, more than 15 were said to have died in yet another blast that came few minutes. Most that died were soccer fans that gathered to watch one of the Premier League matches showing in the TV. 

Another blast occurred at a joint where men sit down to chat in the evening where more persons were said to have died and injured. 

Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, visited the scenes of the attack on Monday, where he sympathised with the victims.

"In all, we have 54 persons dead and 95 others injured as the total casualty figure we had in the suicide bombing attacks", said PPRO Isuku, who added that "three persons were critically injured and are at the ICU of the Teaching Hospital, we hope they would be helped to survive". 

Three thunderous blasts suspected to be from explosives devices had last night rocked a crowded neighbourhood of Maiduguri the Borno state capital even as unconfirmed reports said it was an attack on Mosque where worshippers were praying. 

On Sunday, minutes after the blasts reverberated over Maiduguri, Yahaya Garba, a resident of Ajilari-Cross in Maiduguri, Borno state capital informed this Blogger that he heard the blasts at about  7:20pm when muslims were observing the late evening prayer of the day. 

"I heard just returned from my workshop and was trying to take bathe when we heard the first blast", said Yahaya. "Initially I thought it was a burst of tyre, then suddenly the second blast was heard barely a minute after the first one. Before we could make out what was happening the third one went off again. 

"No one could say exactly what actually happened as people were heard running to their homes while distant shooting from soldiers was heard", said Yahaya, a mechanic. 

SPokesman of the Nigeria Vigilante Group, Abbas Gava had confirmed to AP reporter on phone that "three bomb explosion was heard but none of us could say exactly what happened".

Spokesman of Nigeria Army, Colonel, Sani Kukasheka Usman, confirmed the bomb attack

"This is to inform the public that there were three improvised explosive devices explosions at Gomari and Ajilari general area in Maiduguri at about 7.21pm today evening", he said. 

"Although details are not clear, it is important to note the attacks signify high level of desperation on the part of the Boko Haram terrorists. 

"Security personnel and emergency management teams have been drafted to the area and appropriate security measures being taken. 

"We would like to state that the Nigerian military would not be deterred in its determined efforts of defeating Boko Haram terrorists in the shortest possible time. 

"We would like to assure the public also that now the terrorists have  shown their ugly presence  in such areas, there is need for more vigilance, security consciousness and prompt reporting of suspicious persons or group of persons in their midst. This would enable the security take appropriate measures against them.

It would be recalled that their previous attempts to attack and blow up Allau dam was thwarted".

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