Update: 19 Killed, 47 Injured By Female Suicide Bomber on Crowded Damaturu Market On Sunday

Damaturu, the Yobe State capital came under attack again on Sunday morning, as a suicide bomb tore through a crowded market, killing 19 people and wounding 47 early morning visitors.

When the dust settled, according to spokesman of Mohammed Kanar, spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the death toll stood at 19, while 47 were injured.

But Toyin Gbadegeshin, Police Public Relations Officer in Yobe, while confirming the incident, put the death toll at 15 and 47 injured.

Gbadegeshin told newsmen in the Yobe State capital, that the bomber, a 10-year-old girl, detonated the explosive device at the gate of the market, killing herself and 14 others.

“A female suicide bomber, aged about 10 years, detonated the explosive device at a crowded main entrance of the popular Sunday Market, killing 15 people, including 10 females and five males, while injuring 47 others,” he explained.

The attack took place six days after a suicide bomber killed three policemen at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city.

Earlier this month also, at least nine people were killed in Damaturu by a female suicide bomber as worshippers gathered to mark the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.

The Police spokesman said five other units of undetonated explosives were recovered at the scene of the explosion and that suicide bombers used mortars similar to those recovered from suspected bombers on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway last Monday when three policemen and five suicide bombers were killed.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, on Sunday said it has liberated Dikwa Local Government area of Borno State, a stronghold of the Boko Haram sect, as well as neighbouring villages.

During the encounter, 20 terrorists were killed and several others injured, according to the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, he disputed claims by the Borno State Deputy Governor, Zannah Umar Mustapha that some local government councils in Borno and Yobe states were still under the control of the sect.

Usman however explained: “During the encounter, over 20 terrorists were killed and several wounded. The troops recovered the following items; five vehicles heavily laden with Improvised Explosives Devices about to be unleashed into the society, four motorcycles, one Toyota Hilux mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns, one Anti-Aircraft Gun and one General Purpose Machine Gun.

“Others include three extra Barrels of Anti-Aircraft Gun, a box of Anti-Aircraft Gun Ammunition, three SIM Cards and a damaged AK-47 Rifle.

“The brave soldiers also destroyed five motorcycles adorned with terrorists flags and a Toyota Hilux mounted with Anti-Aircraft Gun.

“The advancing soldiers also found a concealed IED and safely detonated it. The IED was planted by the terrorists at the village with connected wires traced to most likely one of the Boko Haram terrorists kingpins residence.”

Continuing, the Army Spokesman, acknowledged “that Boko Haram terrorists have been occupying some portions of Gamboru Ngala, Kala Balge, Guzamala and Dikwa Local Government Areas of Borno State.”

He noted that in Yobe State, Gujba LGA headquarters had long been deserted, adding that “due to recent concerted efforts, roads and towns hitherto being held by Boko Haram terrorists and laced with mines such as Biu-Buni Yadi-Damaturu and Biu-Sabon Gari-Damboa roads were liberated and cleared of mines and made safe for public usage. “

Efforts are on, he continued, to liberate other towns and roads, assuring that “with the support of Nigerian Air Force, I am glad to inform you that our gallants troops yesterday liberated Dikwa LGA.  During the battle, troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army destroyed one of the terrorists’ camp at Faljari village along Dikwa-Maiduguri road, Borno State.

“There is no doubt that the village has been the terrorists logistics base. The Nigerian Army wishes to state further that it would not rest on its oars until all portions of Nigerian soil is reclaimed and made safe from the terrorists.”

Also on Sunday, the Army said it is set to deploy about 700 soldiers on a United Nations Mission in Liberia for Peacekeeping.

Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai who was in Kaduna for the graduation ceremony of the Pre-deployment Training of NIBBAT 37 at the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre Jaji, warned that the Nigerian Army would not accept any situation where its troops become soft targets to rebels or conducting themselves in any unprofessional manner.

He said unprofessional manners such as trafficking in illicit substances of any kind, including alcohol and drugs contradict United Nations ethnic.

The training, he continued, was to give them a firm grasp of all the rudiments involved in protection of civilian and mandated mission.

“Tactics, techniques and procedures imparted on the battalion during the training would put them in good stead to accomplish the tasks that will be assigned to them in fulfillment of the mandate of Mission.

“Nigerian Government would not tolerate the contravention of the policies and directives and advised the troops to work within the rules of engagement of the mission”.

Commandant of the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre Major-General I. Birigeni, earlier in his welcome address, urged the soldiers comprising different units of 3 and 7 Divisions of the Nigerian Army to work hard to improve on the skills they have imbibed while on training.

He reminded them to always remember the confidence reposed in them as ambassadors of the Nigerian Army in particular and the Nation in general.

Source:

Daily Independent Newspaper