Barely 24 hours after Boko Haram killed about five villagers at the outskirts of Maiduguri on Tuesday, MAIDUGURI today is yet hit with a car suicide explosion which has claimed eight life and 15 people injured.
The explosion which involved a Volkswagen Golf car at Muna Garage Junction in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, was said to have been concealed in the car overnight as passengers unknowingly boarded the vehicle which was about taken off from the garage when the prime IEDs went off, a NEMA official who does not want his name explained.
"We have evacuated eight dead bodies, and fifteen injured persons to the general hospital Maiduguri, " the NEMA official informed. The incident according to an eye-witness who did not want his name mentioned in print said,
Isa Alhaji, who escaped the explosion by whisker informed The Nation that many people were seriously wounded in the blasts, "I fear that the death toll may rise", he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Borno State Command, ASP Victor Isuku confirmed the blast in a statement, insisting that all the five occupants of the vehicle were killed.
Mr. Isuku informed officials of Police Anti-bomb Squad, men of the Civilian JTF and other humanitarian agencies like National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and Borno State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA were quickly mobilized to the scene to evacuate both the charred bodies of the dead and the injured ones to the hospital.
Confirming the incident, Isuku said, "At about 08:30hours, there was an IED explosion onboard a Golf 1 motor vehicle with reg. No JERE 349 XA, body S/No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour carry 5 passengers (4 females and a male driver), by Muna along Maiduguri /Gamboru Ngala road. The explosion occurred when the taxi was attempting to join the convoy of other vehicles heading to Gamboru town.
"The suicide bomber who is reasonably believed to be one of the female casualties was picked along the road.
Source: www.bing.com
