Twenty Six people were killed while 85 others were injured when 14 female suicide bombers attempted to attack Maiduguri, Borno state capital, on Sunday but were repelled by gallant soldiers of the Division. The General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Lamidi Adeosun disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday at the Media Centre of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Maiduguri.
He revealed that the female suicide bombers between the ages of 12 and 18 tried to force themselves into Maiduguri with the intent of causing mayhem but were intercepted by the troops on patrol.
Adeosun however regretted that three of the suicide bombers detonated the IEDs killing 26 Persons while 85 others were injured.
He added that the terrorists intended to carry out massive and coordinated suicide mission through four different entrances Asuwari, Mulai Kura , Baderi village Nine Damboa Road and Jameri Village all at the outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis.
The GOC revealed that out of 14 suicide bombers, seven were gunned down by the troops, three escaped and blew off themselves when one of them went to a house requesting for a kettle of water to perform ablution but blew herself close to a Mosque killing herself and one person, while 13 others sustained injuries.
Adeosun further disclosed that one female suspected suicide is apprehended during the operation, while the remaining 3 amongst the 14 blew off themselves at different locations including Baderi general area.
He praised the gallantry of the troops for being vigilant at all time and commended their courage by eliminating the suicide bombers and arresting some of them, which he believes have averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gain entry into the town.
After the briefing, a suspected female suicide bomber was paraded before to the press men for interviewing.
Speaking to newsmen during an interview, the suspected suicide bomber named Fatima said she lives with her parents in Bullukutu Abuja in Maiduguri before been abducted with 6 other females in Monguno town.
Noting that she was a divorced mother of a baby girl, she denied ever being involved in terror activities since her abduction last year.
Fatima revealed that Boko Haram insurgents took her along with other five females in a vehicle through unknown routes before arriving the outskirt of Maiduguri where she managed to escape and pass the night in a nearby village.
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