*Army warns Nigerians on two tactics used by Boko Haram
At least eight persons were killed Monday when a female suicide bomber detonated explosives in the midst of worshippers in a Mosque in Maiduguri, witnesses and security officials say.
The suicide bomber was being chased by security operatives when she detonated the bombs strapped to her chest.
About 13 other worshippers were also left with threatening injuries in the deafening explosion.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that about four other persons were killed in a separate attack in another location in Maiduguri.
Danbatta Bello, the spokesman of the Civillian-JTF, confirmed the incident.
He said the mosque attack took place at Zannari street along Maiduguri-Dikwa road.
“They were two girls that wanted to attack the mosque but one of them got stuck in the barbed wire in the ditch dug near the area. The second one escaped and began to run. Our operatives there began to chase her.
“She rushed to the mosque and detonated the second bomb,’’ Bello said.
Danbatta added two other female suicide bombers were gunned down at Mamanti street of Maiduguri at about the same time the mosque was attacked.
“We now have a total of 12 persons that were killed and about 13 injured,” said Danbatta.
The police is to officially brief the media later.
The town has been under serial attacks by suicide bombers in recent weeks.
On July 7, police on surveillance duty around the University of Maiduguri area gunned down two male suicide bombers who were attempting to sneak into the university campus to carry out an attack.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has warned the public to be wary of new tactics devised by Boko Haram insurgents who engage children to unleash suicide bomb attacks.
A statement signed by Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command, and issued in Maiduguri, said the insurgents had employed new methods to attract prey to its suicide bomb target.
“The insurgents have employed deceptive tactics to attain maximum casualties during suicide bomb mission from the civil populace.
“One of the tactics is to create a fighting scene to attract attention and cause people to gather around them before they detonate their explosives.
“Another antic is by abducting children on errands, strap them with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) vests and send them back home, where the bomb is set to detonate and kill members of the household,” he said.
Nwachukwu said that the insurgents had recently succeeded in carrying out its nefarious activities and suicide attacks through deceptive tactics.
He advised members of the public to be wary of these tactics and avoid unnecessary gatherings that could expose them to dangers.
“Also, parents and guardians are advised to sensitise their children on these new Boko Haram tricks,” Mr. Nwachukwu said.
He also urged parents to be vigilant and monitor movement of their children to protect them from being used by insurgents for evil mission.
Source: PREMIUM TIMES
