Army kills three female Boko Haram suicide bombers seeking to blow up Borno IDP camp

SOLDIERS attached to the Seventh Mechanised Brigade of the Nigerian Army based in Maiduguri have shot dead three female suspected suicide bombers in the town of Monguno as they attempted to detonate a bomb in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp.

 

Due to the Boko Haram crisis, Nigeria has the highest number of IDP's in the world, most of them in Borno State. Although Boko Haram has been defeated as a comprehensive military force, it still has a presence in the state and yesterday tried to make its presence felt by setting off a bomb in the camp.

 

According to Nigerian Army spokesman Col Sani Usman, the bombers were targeting some IDPs who were fetching water at a borehole along Marte Road, on the outskirts of the town. He added that some people were injured during the attack and have been evacuated and are currently receiving medical attention at the 8 Task Force Division’s medical facility, while the third suicide bomber, who followed a different route, detonated her bomb at some distance at about 7.10 am.

 

Col Sani said: “Yesterday at about 6.15 am, three female Boko Haram terrorists suicide bombers attempted to attack innocent IDPs fetching water at a borehole located about 3km on the outskirts of Monguno town along Marte Road. Our vigilant troops detected and gunned them down, killing two instantly but unfortunately, the explosive they were strapped with exploded and injured two civilians nearby.”

 

He added that troops of the 118 Task Force Battalion, 8 Task Force Division sprang a surprised ambush on some elements of Boko Haram terrorists along Gerere Junction in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State early yesterday morning. According to Col Usman, during the operation, the troops killed four Boko Haram terrorists carrying logistics items.