Nine persons were killed and 18 others sustained injuries in two separate Boko Haram attacks in Borno State, the police and the military confirmed yesterday.
Four suspected Boko Haram militants who were said to have sneaked out of Sambisa forest were gunned down while four other suspected suicide bombers who were also said to have tried to manoeuvre their way into Maiduguri metropolis were intercepted by security operatives at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city.
Army spokesman at the Theatre Command in Maiduguri, Col. Onyema Uwachukwu, said in a statement yesterday, that troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole, on a fighting patrol killed four Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush in Malumti on Friday.
“The insurgents, who had been routed out of the Sambisa forest by troops of Operation Deep Punch II, were rummaging for food and logistics when they met their waterloo. The gallant troops recovered a Toyota Land Cruiser, one AK 47 rifle, 15 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and one magazine.
“Troops also recovered 47 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit from the insurgents,” Col. Uwachukwu said, adding that “the troops deployed at a checkpoint ahead of Muna Garage in the outskirts of Maiduguri on Friday also neutralised four suicide bombers comprising a male and three females.
“The suicide bombers were attempting to infiltrate the Maiduguri Metropolis through Muna Zawiya area at about 9.30 pm but were spotted by vigilant troops, who fired shots hitting one of them and thereby triggering a simultaneous explosion killing all the four bombers. Regrettably however, 18 persons were injured in the incident. The wounded have been evacuated for medical attention,” Col. Uwachukwu said.
Also confirming the incident, the police spokesman in the state, DSP Edet Okon, said only five persons were killed.
“The Borno State Police Command dispatched men to the scene, including men of the CTU, SARS and EOD to sweep the place and make the environment safe,” DSP Okon said, adding that normalcy has returned to the area.
According to the police, adequate security arrangements have been put in place for a hitch- free Easter celebration.
