Female suicide bomber kills 15, injures 47 in Yobe

A SUSPECTED female Boko Haram suicide bomber yesterday, attacked the Damaturu Central Market in Yobe State by detonating hidden Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strapped to her body killing 15 people. More than 47 others were injured in the attack that took place at about 9.35am.

The suspect, according to an eyewitness, Hamidu Isa, disguised as a beggar before detonating the explosive that rocked the state capital with scores of traders abandoning their wares and running away into safety.

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Army, Maj.Gen. Sanusi Muazu, has said the Nigerian Armed Forces would soon rout Boko Haram terrorists and bring to an end the activities of the insurgents in the country.

Gen. Muazu who spoke at the weekend at the closing ceremony of 2 Division Nigerian Army Inter- Brigade Competition held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said peace would soon return to the North East part of the country.

The Yobe State Police Commissioner, Marcus Danladi, in a telephone interview yesterday in Damaturu, also said the market which holds every Sunday, was shattered because of the blast that killed over a dozen traders and passersby.

“Today’s attacks on this market was very unfortunate and terrifying, as the Boko Haram continues to attack soft targets of markets, motor parks and any other areas with high concentration of ordinary people.

This is what happened today in Damaturu Central Market which , since 1991, has been patronized by neighbouring towns and villages for exchange of basic needs of life ” Danladi said.

He said the explosive which was detonated at the main entrance of the market, created a large crater. He also confirmed that 15 people were killed; while 47 others had been evacuated by rescue teams to the Sani Abacha Specialists Hospital, Damaturu for identification and treatment.

He said that five units of IEDs were also recovered from the blast scene just as he warned members of the public to be careful with suspects carrying bags.

He noted that the insurgents have resorted to using bags in conveying their explosive devices.

Following the attack, the market was quickly cordoned off by the military and police, as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross (NRC) and other rescue teams evacuated the dead and the injured to the hospital for identification and treatment. Hospital authorities however declined to comment, as residents besiege the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital to confirm whether their relations were among the blast victims .

Yesterday’s attack came a few days after the one at the Damaturu Gate checkpoint that killed three policemen and 14 civilians.

The Police also recovered six units of IED cylinders in a Highlander Sports Unity Vehicle (SUV) used in attacking the policemen at their duty post along Maiduguri-Damaturu road.

While confirming that the major security challenge facing the nation today is insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country, Muazu noted that the terrorists have changed tactics, concentrating now on soft targets which, to him, indicates that they are cornered and running out of strategies.

According to him: “They are now hitting soft targets which indicates that their days are numbered. I can comfortably tell you that they cannot undertake any offensive attack against Nigerian forces.

“They will keep on going for soft targets, but I want to assure Nigerians that that too will soon end.”