Suicide bombing attacks were averted in Maiduguri on Friday as three suicide bombers were intercepted by the military just a kilometre into the troubled town.

Briefing journalists on Friday, the deputy commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East, Brigadier General Lucky Irabor, said the three suicide bombers were intercepted while trying to get passage into Maiduguri.

He said, “The three suicide bombers, two females and a male, attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri but were intercepted by vigilant men a kilometre ahead of the town, along Mafa road.”


 
He added that one of the bombers on sighting the troops detonated the bomb on her, getting killed in the process alongside the other bomber.

He said, “The third one while attempting to run at the checkpoint to detonate the bomb on him, but before he could get to the soldiers was shot.”

He added that in the last one week other successes were recorded by the Nigerian troops fighting the insurgency in the North-East.

He said in furtherance of the ongoing offensive operations to clear Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East, on January 17 troops conducted a clearance operation at Shentimari general area and cleared Boko Haram enclaves and recovered 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

He said, “Similarly, on January 18 at Chukun Gudu, troops encountered and destroyed terrorist’s camps along Jillam, Bula Butube general areas. During the exchange of fire, 10 terrorists were killed, two AK47 rifles, two AK47 magazines, two solar panels and two GSM handsets were recovered, while one Isuzu vehicle was destroyed.

“On January 20, troops cleared terrorist camps/enclaves at Ngwalimiri and Gazama in Damboa Local Government Area. While conducting operations in Mufurundi village along Damboa-Bale road, our gallant troops intercepted 10 Boko Haram suspects from Bego, Mesemarri and Bale villages carrying bags containing food condiments, soaps, and other items. Suspects are presently undergoing interrogation. Also, troops had an encounter with terrorists during advance from Wajirok to Ajigin. During the encounter, three of the terrorists were killed.”

He further revealed that: “In a related development, troops took custody of three suspected Boko Haram terrorists who voluntarily surrendered themselves to Damboa Vigilante Group at Kaya village. During interrogation, they claimed to have been forced to join the Boko Haram terrorist group and also participated in the group’s previous attacks at Askira and other locations.