Two Female Suicide Bombers Kill Nine in Damaturu

AS MUSLIMS marked the end of Ramadan and commenced the celebration of Eld-el- Fitri, two female Boko Haram suicide bombers attacked the Phase One Secretariat Complex and Gwange Sabon Pegi road in Damaturu, Yobe State, detonating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) strapped to their bodies, killing nine people and injuring 41 others between 7.35am and 8.15am yesterday.

The twin blasts, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Markus Danladi, claimed the lives of nine people, adding that the blasts were masterminded by two female bombers shortly before the Muslims prayers.

Nigerian Army authorites also confirmed the blasts, saying that the bombs were detonated at a screening area. A statement by the acting Director Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, added: “The two female suicide bombers, one elderly woman and a 10-year-old girl, detonated the devices at a screening area for intending Muslim worshippers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at Phase One (in front of former state secretariat), Damaturu.

“Four persons died in the first explosion and seven people injured, while five people lost their lives in the second explosion and 11 were wounded.

“Troops and security agencies responded immediately. The situation is under control. Both the governor and the COAS sympathise with and urge the people to stay calm and be security conscious. No amount of terrorist act would deter our resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency.”

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Damaturu Specialist Hospital, Dr. Adamu Musa Fika, also confirmed that nine people died in the blasts and 41 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The streets of Damaturu, the state capital, were deserted, as the Police and other security agencies promptly adjusted the restrictions of movement from 2pm to 6pm.

But the early blasts did not affect the celebration, as hundreds of Muslim worshippers attended prayers at various praying grounds to thank God for the successful completion of the Ramadan fast that ended on Thursday.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-General Tukar Yusuf Buratai, joined Governor Ibrahim Gaidam and some government officials and military personnel in the prayer session held at the Yobe Mosque and Islamic Centre.

Shortly after the prayer, Gaidam thanked the Army Chief for coming to the state, saying he has a lot ahead of him in maintaining peace in the troubled area.

Buratai said he was in the state to celebrate Sallah with Nigerian troops on ground, adding: “My presence here during this Sallah celebration was of strategic reasons to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.”