TheCable

A suicide bomber killed a member of the civilian joint task force, a vigilante at a military checkpoint in Baga, Borno state, on Monday.

Bello Danbatta, spokesman for the joint task force (JTF), told TheCable that four people sustained injuries from the attack that was targeted at a Muslim assembly.

The spokesman said those who sustained injuries have since been taken to a hospital for treatment.

Bello Danjuma, a witness and resident of Maikore, said the attack which took place around 1am was targeted at a mosque at Ibrahim Taiwo federal housing low cost unit.

“He might also deliberately targeted the victims at Maikore which was a stone throw distance from the recently demolished ‘Barka Da Zuwa’ area. We had to cut our prayers and run to our various residence for safety because nobody knows how many suicide bombers were around,” Danjuma said.

Edet Okon, spokesman of the Borno state command, confirmed the attack and said officers of the explosive ordinance department (EOD) have been dispatched to render the area safe.

“Today being 11-06-18 at about 0125hrs, a male suicide bomber detonated an IED strapped to his body in a shop along Baga Road by maikore Junction in Maiduguri metropolis. The resulting explosion killed the bomber and one other person while four other persons were injured,” a statement by Okon read.

“Borno state police command had immediately deployed men of the EOD to sanitize the scene and render the area safe. The wounded were evacuated to the hospital where they are responding to treatment.

“The commissioner of police Borno state, CP Damian Chukwu urges members of the public to be vigilant and to promptly report suspicious persons to the security agencies for necessary actions.”

Editor’s note: This picture was used for illustrative purposes