Soldiers Foil Suicide Attacks In Maiduguri
An attack by three suicide bombers in Maiduguri on Friday, January 22 was foiled by the military just a kilometre into the troubled town, The Punch reports.
The attackers were intercepted while trying to get passage into Maiduguri, according to Brigadier General Lucky Irabor, the deputy commander of Operation Lafiya Dole (the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East).
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He said: "The three suicide bombers, two females and a male, attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri but were intercepted by vigilant men a kilometre ahead of the town, along Mafa road.”
General Lucky Irabor added that one of the bombers on sighting the troops detonated the bomb on her, getting killed in the process alongside the other bomber.
“The third one while attempting to run at the checkpoint to detonate the bomb on him, but before he could get to the soldiers was shot."
Irabor said the Nigerian troops fighting the insurgency in the northeast had recorded other successes in the last one week.
He said troops on January 17 raided Boko Haram enclaves at Shentimari general area recovering 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
“Similarly, on January 18 at Chukun Gudu, troops encountered and destroyed terrorist’s camps along Jillam, Bula Butube general areas. During the exchange of fire, 10 terrorists were killed, two AK47 rifles, two AK47 magazines, two solar panels and two GSM handsets were recovered, while one Isuzu vehicle was destroyed.
“On January 20, troops cleared terrorist camps/enclaves at Ngwalimiri and Gazama in Damboa Local Government Area. While conducting operations in Mufurundi village along Damboa-Bale road, our gallant troops intercepted 10 Boko Haram suspects from Bego, Mesemarri and Bale villages carrying bags containing food condiments, soaps, and other items. Suspects are presently undergoing interrogation. Also, troops had an encounter with terrorists during advance from Wajirok to Ajigin. During the encounter, three of the terrorists were killed,” he added.
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He also disclosed that three suspected Boko Haram terrorists who voluntarily surrendered themselves to Damboa Vigilante Group at Kaya village made confessional statements that they were forced to join the Boko Haram terrorist group and also participated in the group’s previous attacks at Askira and other locations.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has insisted the Boko Haram insurgency has been decimated in the country as members of the group can no longer launch attacks.
General Gabriel Olonisakin, the chief of defence staff said on Tuesday, January 12 that “Boko Haram has been degraded and they are not fit any longer to carry out coordinated attacks but off course suicide bombing is an issue we are still battling with.”
He assured the people that the military would take the issue of suicide bombing seriously and end the activities in the country.
Source: Legit.ng
