Three thunderous blasts suspected to be from explosives devices from suicide bombers last night rocked crowded neighbourhood of Gomari Ward and Ajilari area in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
It was further gathered that scores of people might have been killed during the incident while the actual number of victims could not be ascertained at press time.
Yahaya Garba, a resident of Ajilari-Cross in Maiduguri, said he heard the blast at about 7:20pm when Muslims were observing the last prayer of the day.
He said, “I have just returned from my workshop and was trying to take my bath when we heard the first blast. Initially I thought it was a burst of tyre, then suddenly the second blast was heard barely a minute after the first one. Before we could make out what was happening, the third one went off again.
“No one could say exactly what actually happened as people were heard running to their homes while distant shooting from soldiers was heard”.
Spokesman of the Nigeria Vigilante Group, Abbas Gava, confirmed the development and told LEADERSHIP on phone that “three bomb explosions were heard but none of us could say exactly what happened”.
Spokesman of Nigeria Army, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman, also confirmed the attacks
He said, “This is to inform the public that there were three improvised explosive devices explosions at Gomari and Ajilari general area in Maiduguri at about 7.21pm today evening. Although details are not clear, it is important to note the attacks signify high level of desperation on the part of the Boko Haram terrorists. Security personnel and emergency management teams have been drafted to the area and appropriate security measures being taken.’’
“We would like to state that the Nigerian military would not be deterred in its determined efforts of defeating Boko Haram terrorists in the shortest possible time.
Source: Leadership