TheCable

Mustapha Anka, deputy spokesman of the Nigerian Army, says there are ongoing efforts to arrest those behind the latest suicide attacks in Maiduguri, Borno state capital.

There are conflicting reports on the casualties, but Anka said Victor Ezugwu, acting general officer commanding (GOC), had already visited the scene “to get first class information”.

Assuring residents of the city of their safety, he advised them to be security conscious.

“Troops and security agencies have been mobilised and the injured have been evacuated while efforts are ongoing to comb the general area as well as entries and exits of Maiduguri,” he said in a statement.

“While we commiserate with the families of the late victims of this cruel act and wish those injured speedy recovery, we would like to assure the public that efforts are ongoing to track those behind the dastardly acts.

“However, it is equally important to reiterate the need for more vigilance and security consciousness among all. Citizens are enjoined to report any suspicious persons or movements to the security agencies.”

He also gave his own account of the tragic incident.

“At about 7:05am this morning, there were twin simultaneous suicide bomb explosions at the entrance of Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp and NNPC Mega Filling Station, Damboa Road, Maiduguri,” he said.

“At the Bakassi IDPs camp, a suspected female suicide bomber ran into a group of men and women at the entrance while they were coming out of the camp, killing 5 men and injuring 11 women.

“The bodies of the dead men and the injured women have been evacuated.

“At the NNPC, a female suicide bomber followed a fuel tanker in Keke NAPEP tricycle with the sole aim of gaining entry to cause maximum damage and casualty but was prevented from gaining access to the station by another vehicle.”