An early morning bomb explosion targeted at the Joint Task Force (JTF) troops in the restive city of Maiduguri yesterday caused panic among residents, prompting many to restrict their movements or stay indoor till mid-day. Military sources hinted that the bomb explosion which occurred at exactly 8.26am yesterday at Costain Gwange area in front of a Guest House, was targeted at the patrol vehicle of the JTF by bombers suspected to be Boko Haram.
The source who also disclosed that an army officer was among the JTF troops in the patrol vehicle however said no life was lost. “They might have planted the IEDs on the road early in the morning and then hide somewhere to wait for when the JTF patrol vehicle will pass to detonate it with their remote control,” a resident of the area suggested. Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa who confirmed the blast said no casualty was recorded.
He showed journalists the affected vehicle even as he urged residents to cooperate with the task force by giving credible information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. “At about 8:35 am yesterday (Wednesday), there was a failed IED attack on a JTF patrol vehicle along Costain area of Maiduguri metropolis. An IED remote control bomb targeted at JTF vehicle was planted and buried on the road by suspected Boko Haram. No casualty was recorded, nobody was killed or wounded.
The area was cordoned off, searched and swept by the bomb disposal arm of the JTF,” a statement issued by Lt. Col Musa said. Meanwhile, unconfirmed report claimed two Chinese working at the dualization of the Kano-Maiduguri road were yesterday murdered at Beneshiek, headquaters of Kaga Local Government in Borno State by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram.
Detail of the attack were scanty as at press time. The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Yuguda neither confirmed nor denied the killing when contacted on phone. “I will get back to you later, let me find out,” he promised.
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