8 killed, 15 injured as bomb hits Maiduguri motor park

The Police in Borno State, on Wednesday, confirmed the killing of five persons after a suspected female suicide bomber detonated her explosives near Muna garage, in Maiduguri.

Mr Victor Isuku, the spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the incident in a statement.

“Please be informed that at about 0830 today (Wednesday), there was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion on board a Golf 1 motor vehicle with reg. No JERE 349 XA, body S/No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour.

“The car was carrying five people, four females and a male driver,” Isuku said.

He said  the explosion occurred around Muna garrage on Maiduguri /Gamboru Ngala Road.

“The explosion occurred when the taxi was attempting to join the convoy of other vehicles heading to Gamboru town.

“All the four female passengers and the male driver died in the explosion,” Isuku said.

He said  the bomber was suspected to have been picked by the driver on the road.

“The suicide bomber who is reasonably believed to be one of the female casualties, was picked on the road,” Isuku said.

He, however, said the explosion did not affect other vehicles on the queues as everybody rushed out after the explosion.

In another development, a total of eight  persons lost their lives and 15 others  injured in the explosion that occurred on Wednesday morning, at Muna motor park, Maiduguri, Borno State. The rescue team of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) promptly responded to the incident and evacuated the injured persons and the corpses to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Borno State Specialist Hospital.

According to a press release  signed by the agency’s media and public relations officer, Sani Datti,  and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, the explosion occurred outside the park, located on the outskirts of the town, which used by motorists that carry passengers to the Dikwa, Gamboru Ngala axis of the state.

The injured persons taken to the hospitals are currently being attended to. Security has also been beefed up at the scene of the explosion.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have killed two Boko Haram terrorists while on clearance patrol at Ladin Buta and Juwano villages in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said in a statement late Tuesday, that the troops engaged the remnants of the terrorists, who were believed to be terrorising the residents through wanton killings, kidnappings and armed robberies.

“During the exchange of fire, two Boko Haram terrorists were gunned down by the troops, while some escaped with gunshot wounds.”

The patrol team also recovered two AK-47 rifles with magazine, two fabricated 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, two mobile telephone handsets and a torchlight from the terrorists,” he said.