The troops of the Nigerian Army have killed a suspected female suicide bomber in Borno State.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Monday that the suspected bomber was killed at a checkpoint at the cattle market in Dikwa, Dikwa Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the troops on duty had to shoot at her when she refused to obey the directive of the sentry on duty to stop.
She had claimed to be on her way to Dikwa from Monguno to see her parents.
Usman said the soldiers were proved right when the suspected female suicide bomber who was carrying ‘Person Borne Improvised Explosive Devices’ exploded and died on the spot after she was shot.
He said two soldiers and a member of the Civilian JTF sustained minor injuries and were treated in the hospital.
He said, “On Sunday, September 11, 2016, in the evening, a suspected female suicide bomber was seen approaching a troops’ checkpoint located at Kara Cattle Market axis, Dikwa, towards Antul and Mukdala, Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.
“She was challenged from afar by the vigilant sentry on duty but she refused to stop, claiming to be coming from Monguno to see her parents in Dikwa.
“The troop, who sensed that the direction of approach was suspicious and abnormal, fired a shot at her and the gallant sentry was proven right as she was carrying a Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device which exploded with a loud bang, killing her instantly and causing minor injuries to two soldiers and a Civilian JTF (member) assisting them.”
Usman said the incident had shown that the remnants of the insurgents were determined to carry out heinous acts to create panic and insecurity in the North-East.
He added that the insurgents were disguising as mad people to have access to crowded places in Maiduguri.
Usman, who urged members of the public to be security conscious, advised them to be wary of mad people and to report their presence to security personnel.
This, Usman added, was because the military had a reliable information that the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists were disguising as mad men or women in order to gain access to some locations, especially in Maiduguri.
“Consequently, all should be very wary of any seemingly mentally unstable or mad men or women found wandering and report same.
“Therefore, it is imperative for all to be more security conscious and vigilant, especially during the Eidfestivities and public holidays.’’
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Yakubu Pam, has advised Muslim leaders and Islamic faithful from the North to use the occasion of the Sallah to join hands in the war against terrorism in the country.
He said this was because the effects of terrorists’ activities knew no boundary and were affecting everyone irrespective of religion or tribe.
Pam, in a press statement in Jos on Monday, said Muslim leaders in the North with their Christian counterparts had one common task of using occasions such as this to preach the message of love and peace to their followers in order to promote peaceful co-existence, mutual respect for one another to build a region devoid of killings and destruction of property.
According to him, northern states are blessed with natural resources that if tapped by the government would enhance development of the states of the North in particular and the country in general.
He used the occasion to call on religious extremists in the North, especially the Boko Haram fighters, to lay down their arms and embrace peace so that the internally displaced persons from the region could return to their abandoned homes.
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