Nigerian soldiers shot dead a suspected Book Haram suicide bomber outside a military base in Borno on Sunday, detonating explosives concealed in her handbag. AFP reports that the target was believed to be the Maimalari army barracks- the main military base in Maiduguri.
Boko Haram has attacked the base at different times in the last two years.
“Soldiers at Maimalari army barracks this morning (Sunday) foiled a suicide attack by a female bomber,” said Babakura Kolo, from the civilian volunteer force assisting troops against the rebels.
The woman approached the barracks around 7:00 am and headed towards the gates.
Military guards at the gates shouted at her to stop for security checks but she ignored them and continued walking towards the gates.
“She continued walking with her handbag slung on her shoulder, despite repeated shouts from the soldiers asking her stop.
“One of the soldiers opened fire on the woman and the handbag exploded, blowing the woman to pieces.”
There were no other casualties in the explosion, which one military officer in the city described as an “attempted suicide attack by Boko Haram terrorists”.
Boko Haram has intensified its use of multiple suicide bombers to inflict maximum casualties, with secondary explosions detonated as people rush to help victims of the initial blast.
At least 34 people were killed in a wave of attacks on Thursday night and Friday morning on the outskirts of Maiduguri, while last month 117 died in explosions in the Ajilari Cross area of the Borno state capital.
Of the six suicide attacks in Nigeria this month, four have been in Maiduguri, killing at least 48 and injuring 99.
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