Strife-torn northern Nigeria was hit by two deadly attacks
on Wednesday, when a female suicide bomber was killed as
she tried to enter a military barracks and seven died in a
bus explosion.
Soldiers opened fire on the woman when she refused to be
searched as she approached the barracks in Bolari, in
Gombe state, detonating the explosives belt she was
wearing, according to eyewitness accounts.
The woman, who was wearing a hijab, was killed instantly,
witnesses said.
“The woman refused to stop and continued to advance
towards the military guards at the gates despite repeated
orders from them to stop at a distance,” said Shuaibu
Nasir, who lives near the gates of the barracks.
“The soldiers opened fire on the woman who quickened her
pace towards them and as they fired shots at her she
exploded with a loud sound that shook our buildings,” Nasir
said.
Nigeria’s northeastern Gombe state has been the scene of
several attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram in recent
months, and the same barracks were targeted in July.
Wednesday’s blast prompted policemen to fire warning
shots in the air, causing panic among residents, Nasir said.
Another resident, Ahmed Baballe, said the would-be bomber
was “blown to pieces” by the impact of the explosion.
“The soldiers didn’t take chances with the woman and
opened fire when she showed no sign of stopping to be
searched,” Baballe said.
Northeast Nigeria has been continually rocked by attacks
mounted by Boko Haram militants, increasingly using
female suicide bombers.
The extremist group, whose name roughly means “Western
education is forbidden”, have killed thousands since it
began a deadly insurgency in northern Nigeria in 2009.
Experts have cast doubt on Nigeria’s ability to hold planned
national elections in February, because of rising unrest in
parts of the northeast.
Hours earlier on Wednesday, witnesses said that seven
people were killed when a bus exploded in a village close to
Potiskum, the commercial capital of northern Yobe state.
“The bus went up in flames from multiple blasts that killed
all seven men inside,” said Hambali Baidu, a resident of
Maiduwa village, which lies some 60 kilometers (40 miles)
from the city.
No official confirmation of the death toll has been given.
“We heard a series of explosions from the bus which went
flying into the air in flames,” said Usman Haruna, another
resident.
“They were no doubt Boko Haram militants on their way to
carry out attacks.” CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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