31 Feared Dead in Borno Explosion
About 31 people have been reportedly killed and 48 others injured in the latest explosion that rocked Borno state.
Confluence Reporters learnt that suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers on Saturday attacked Abachari village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, residents and witnesses have said.
The suicide bombers, said to be six by the army, reportedly targeted people returning home after a Sallah fair in Damboa.
The policeput the casualty at 20 persons, saying 48 others were injured.
The Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) spoke on the rescue efforts following the attack.
Yabawa Kolo, the chairperson of SEMA, said the agency had deployed its personnel to evacuate wounded persons to the hospital for quick medical attention.
“Our team has been deployed to render life saving support to the victims of the blast. As you can see, they have been tirelessly working with ICRC since morning to evacuate the injured from the airport to the hospital.
“We are all saddened by the unfortunate incident that occured in Damboa,” she said.
The Borno State commissioner of police, Damian Chukwu, told journalists in Maiduguri that the explosion occurred at Abachari town, in Damboa Local Government Area, on Saturday evening.
“At about quarter to nine, yesterday (Saturday) night, a loud explosion was heard at Abachari village, along Damboa/Chibok road,” he said. “The DPO mobilised our men from the SARS and the Civilian-JTF to the scene and found 20 people dead and 48 others injured.
Nigerian Army in Damboa, Borno state (Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters)
Nigerian Army in Damboa, Borno state (Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters)
“Some of the bodies were found shattered, indicating that the explosion came from an explosive device,” Mr Chukwu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some locals alleged that the deaths arose from a misfiring by the Nigerian Army’s artillery. The army, however, denied the claim.
Buba Shettima, a witness, said two separate bomb blasts occurred in Shuwari and Abachari.
“The whole of Damboa was shaken by the unfortunate incident. We all scampered for safety as the blasts were coming from different directions. There were bodies everywhere.
“We suspected that the many deaths recorded were a result of the military artillery,” he said.
Mohammed Hassan, another local from the area who corroborated the claim, said: “At about 8:30 pm of on Saturday night, an attack suspected to be from an artillery killed 31 innocent people in Damboa Shehuri and Abachari. The attacks came from two separate directions. My house was among some of the houses destroyed.”
However, Rogers Nicholas, commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, denied the claim, saying the killings were caused by suicide attacks and not military artillery.
“There was nothing like an attack from the military artillery. You can see the pictures of six female bombers who detonated their explosives and as a result, 20 persons were killed while others were injured,” he said.
Mr Nicholas, a major general, urged people to disregard the claim that the victims were killed by the military and not by suicide bombers.
Confluence Reporters learnt that suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers on Saturday attacked Abachari village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, residents and witnesses have said.
The suicide bombers, said to be six by the army, reportedly targeted people returning home after a Sallah fair in Damboa.
The policeput the casualty at 20 persons, saying 48 others were injured.
The Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) spoke on the rescue efforts following the attack.
Yabawa Kolo, the chairperson of SEMA, said the agency had deployed its personnel to evacuate wounded persons to the hospital for quick medical attention.
“Our team has been deployed to render life saving support to the victims of the blast. As you can see, they have been tirelessly working with ICRC since morning to evacuate the injured from the airport to the hospital.
“We are all saddened by the unfortunate incident that occured in Damboa,” she said.
The Borno State commissioner of police, Damian Chukwu, told journalists in Maiduguri that the explosion occurred at Abachari town, in Damboa Local Government Area, on Saturday evening.
“At about quarter to nine, yesterday (Saturday) night, a loud explosion was heard at Abachari village, along Damboa/Chibok road,” he said. “The DPO mobilised our men from the SARS and the Civilian-JTF to the scene and found 20 people dead and 48 others injured.
Nigerian Army in Damboa, Borno state (Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters)
Nigerian Army in Damboa, Borno state (Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters)
“Some of the bodies were found shattered, indicating that the explosion came from an explosive device,” Mr Chukwu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some locals alleged that the deaths arose from a misfiring by the Nigerian Army’s artillery. The army, however, denied the claim.
Buba Shettima, a witness, said two separate bomb blasts occurred in Shuwari and Abachari.
“The whole of Damboa was shaken by the unfortunate incident. We all scampered for safety as the blasts were coming from different directions. There were bodies everywhere.
“We suspected that the many deaths recorded were a result of the military artillery,” he said.
Mohammed Hassan, another local from the area who corroborated the claim, said: “At about 8:30 pm of on Saturday night, an attack suspected to be from an artillery killed 31 innocent people in Damboa Shehuri and Abachari. The attacks came from two separate directions. My house was among some of the houses destroyed.”
However, Rogers Nicholas, commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, denied the claim, saying the killings were caused by suicide attacks and not military artillery.
“There was nothing like an attack from the military artillery. You can see the pictures of six female bombers who detonated their explosives and as a result, 20 persons were killed while others were injured,” he said.
Mr Nicholas, a major general, urged people to disregard the claim that the victims were killed by the military and not by suicide bombers.
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