No body bag today, thanks to sharp-eyed Civilian JTF

Maiduguri was saved of a bloody Friday today as two female Boko Haram suicide bombers got killed  before they entered the city of several million people.

The two bombers  were killed early today at Umulari Mulai about six kilometres away from Maiduguri on the Maiduguri-Damboa road.

According to reports, the  the two bombers were sighted around 1:00 am by vigilantes known as Civilian JTF.

One of them detonated her bomb when the Civilian JTF  vigilantes on duty around the area asked ‘who is there.’

The second bomber scurried away and holed up nearby. But she was discovered and  shot when soldiers came to the site.

Her bomb was later detonated.

Later, the Nigerian army issued a statement explaining in detail what happened:

Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, said that the interception was done by the army in collaboration with the local vigilantes, popularly known as civilian JTF.

“The ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF, averted yet another suicide attack on the innocent citizens in Borno on Friday.

“The troops intercepted 2 female suicide bombers at about 1.20 this morning, almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri.  However, one of the suicide bombers on sighting our troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself instantly, while the second bomber in an attempt to escape was gunned down by one of the Garrison snipers.

“The combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team safely detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices strapped on the gunned down suicide bomber.

“It is important to state that there was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers. Presently, the troops and the Civilian JTF deployed in the village are now combing the general area to forestall further breach of security.”