Female bomber kills 35, injured dozens in Maiduguri

Sources said two women perfected plans to launch separate attacks in and around the market but only one succeeded while the other one died before reaching her target.It was gathered that one of the women in her early 20s hid explosives beneath a veil and attempted attacking a Juma’at mosque outside the fish market.However, when […]

Sources said two women perfected plans to launch separate attacks in and around the market but only one succeeded while the other one died before reaching her target.
It was gathered that one of the women in her early 20s hid explosives beneath a veil and attempted attacking a Juma’at mosque outside the fish market.
However, when she could not succeed, she reportedly stormed a temporary praying ground in front of some shops inside the market
Hassan Baba Yerwa, the secretary of Fish and Sea Food traders in Borno State described the attack as “disastrous.”
He said at least 35 people, who were mostly observing prayers died in the attack.
“The woman that attacked the mosque killed no fewer than 35 people, in fact, the figure should be higher because I had to leave the scene after counting midway I could not control my emotion.
“It was a sad day for us because we recorded many victims, some with life threatening injuries,” he said.
“We held meeting today on how to improve surveillance in the market but unknown to us, tragedy was around the corner,” he said.
A security official said the attack had the hallmark of the Boko Haram.
“We cannot finger any other group but the Boko Haram because they are the ones who are always targeting soft targets, including markets and places of worship,” he said.
A commercial motorcyclist Idi Ado said the “bombs went off as soon as she approached the worshippers who were observing Asr prayers and nobody suspected her because the place is a busy location and no restriction of movement.”
A trader Jafar Aliyu said the woman disguised as if she wanted to buy something around the area.
“Like other women, the woman was seen near the Juma’at mosque outside the market where worshippers also observe daily prayers but she could not get access to the facility.
“She then went into the market and targeted worshippers who were observing Asr prayers.
“Only her head was found while decapitated bodies and blood were visible around the scene,” he said.
Our correspondents report that soon after the attack, soldiers and policemen cordoned off the area while rescue workers from the Red Cross and NEMA visited the scene and took away the victims.
Several shops and merchandise worth millions of naira were destroyed.
Another lady, who also strapped herself with explosives died before she reached her target near the Baga market, also in Maiduguri.
Witnesses said if she had reached her target, the casualty figure would have been much higher because there is a bus stop around the area.
“She was targeting some civilian JTF near the Dewak (an old company that folded off long ago) but the bombs in her body exploded,” a newspaper vendor close to the scene said. Bakura Ari, a vigilante said they suspected the woman.
 Our correspondents report that in the last six years, the Baga Market has been attacked more than 20 times and hundreds of people have been killed.