Nigerian Islamist insurgents Boko Haram stepped up their attacks this week on civilians in the group’s northeastern stronghold of Borno state, killing more than 150 people in raids and suicide bombings.
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At least 13 people have been killed after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up at a crowded market and a military checkpoint in north-eastern Nigeria.
“The terrorists first descended on Muslim worshippers in various mosques who were observing the Maghrib prayer shortly after breaking their fast [for the Muslim month of Ramadan]”, he said. This time killing almost 200 people in 48 hours of violence in north eastern Nigeria on Friday and beheading 11 of its own members as told by witnesses.
The second attack happened along Alao Dam Road near Bama/ Konduga highway when another female bomber killed herself and three other persons.
“People were just going to the church when the bomber entered, otherwise the casualty figure would have been higher”, said Red Cross official Hassan Alhaji Muhammad, who visited the scene of the blast on the outskirts of Potiskum.
“Some residents who hid in trees saw them planting the mines and alerted us when we returned to the village and started burying our dead”, he said.
The latest attack took place Friday night in Zabarmari village, 10 km from the city of Maiduguri, birthplace of the jihadist group.
For the last five years, Nigeria has battled a fierce Boko Haram insurgency that has ravaged the country’s volatile northeastern region and claimed thousands of lives.
This disclosure was made known via the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Friday July 3, in an interview with the BBC.
In the most deadly attack, the militants targeted several mosques in Kukawa town on Thursday, gunning down almost 100 praying worshippers.
The spike in violence has sparked concern that earlier gains by the armies of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon against the militants were being eroded.
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Khamis said that weapons, communication goods, and documents written by Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram were found in a search and seizure conducted at Fanaye’s residence. Nigeria and its neighbors deployed a multinational army that forced the militants out of towns and had them hemmed into the Sambisa Forest.
