This new dimension in Boko Haram’s terror mode is however not peculiar to Nigeria. In April 2010, a female suicide bomber identified as Dzhennet Adullayeva, a teenager, was among the culprits in the Moscow metro attack that killed dozens of people. Investigators established her identity after series of forensic and genetic examinations as well as identification procedures. Her birth date was given as 1992 and she was said to be the widow of a prominent Dagestani rebel militant leader who was killed by federal forces in late December, 2009. An estimated 500,000 people were riding trains at the metro at the time of the attacks.

Similarly, in October, 2011 at Istanbul, Turkey, a female suicide bomber killed two people and herself in an attack at Turkey’s eastern Bingol province, leaving 20 others seriously injured. The female suicide bomber detonated her explosives while approaching a gathering in the town of Bingol.

Also in Moscow, in October 2013 a female suicide bomber caused a blast that ripped through a passenger bus in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, killing at least six people and injuring 33 others. According to Russian authorities, indications are that the bomber was a 30-year-old woman from Russia’s semi autonomous Republic of Dagestan, where Islamic militants have been fighting Moscow’s rule.

The use of hijab-wearing female suicide bombers sparked off a widespread speculation across the nation on an alleged ban of the use of hijab by Muslim women in Nigeria by the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba.

A rattled Nigeria Police Force was quick to stem the spread of the speculation as the police spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, categorically denied the speculation. “For purposes of emphasis, the new IGP Abba has not and is not contemplating a ban on the use of hijab,” he said.

Similarly, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, threw its weight against the speculated ban of the hijab, warning the Federal Government against banning hijab as such proposal would be unconstitutional. The NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali, rather urged the government to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the security challenges threatening the country. “Placing a ban on wearing hijab due to the recent spate of attacks by female suicide bombers was not a positive and lasting strategy to curbing insecurity. It is the right of every individual to dress according to the requirement of his or her religion and it is not an option to ask female Muslim faithful to stop wearing the hijab.” the senior advocate added.

Expressing the preparedness of security operatives to tackle the new terror tactics of Boko Haram, Mba explained that established international terror organisations use female suicide bombers mainly because women generally raise fewer suspicion, particularly when there are security layers: “If you have been following the trend of terrorism worldwide, you will understand that the use of a female suicide bomber is not new. But it is a new trend in our own part of the world. By our rules of engagement and by our culture, male security operatives generally are not allowed to search females. Henceforth… you will see an increase in female security personnel on roads and in other places where stop and search exercises are being carried out.” He called on Nigerians to be aware of this and be prepared to see more female officers and operatives.

The aftermath: https://thenewsnigeria.com.ng2014/08/13/kanos-women-abandon-hijab-to-avoid-suspicions/