More than 16 persons were killed after a coordinated suicide bombings at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and Zannari Community in Maiduguri on Sunday night.
An eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the bombing started around 10p.m
“The noise of the explosion coming from the university woke us up from the sleep around 10p.m.
“Few minutes after, the explosion spread to other parts of the town, especially around London Ciki,” Malam Usman Chiroma, a resident of Mairi near the university said.
Malam Abdullahi Cirani, another resident, who live around Gidan Dambe corroborated the claim.
“We heard about 10 explosions coming from around the university.
“The explosion led to a stampede in London Ciki as residents abandoned their homes for fear of being affected,” Cirani said.
He said that most residents in the densely populated London Ciki slept in the open near the Gwange Cemetery for fear of being attacked.
But some residents of Zannari interviewed gave a different version of the incident.
Malam Lawan Modu said that the area was invaded by suspected suicide bombers who detonated their explosives in four different locations in the community.
“We had explosions in four different locations in Zannari yesterday, the first explosion happened around 10:30 pm.
“The other explosions took place within short intervals,” Modu said.
He said about 10 people were killed in the attacks.
So many people were affected, in fact, we evacuated about 10 bodies in the morning. Several others were also injured,” Modu said.
Mr Damian Chukwu the State’s Commissioner of Police confirmed the incidents, saying that 16 persons were killed.
“All in all, 16 persons including some suicide bombers died in the multiple suicide attacks, while 13 others were injured.
“Yesterday at about 2221 hours, a male suicide bomber gained entry into the premises of UNIMAID and detonated explosive on his body near the Rapid Response Service office building.
“The bomber died while three university security personnel on duty were injured,” Chukwu said.
He said, however, that one of the injured security personnel later died at the hospital.
“One of the injured security personnel a female known as Becky Edubi later died at the hospital.
“At about 2230 hours the same night, four female suicide bombers infiltrated Zannari Community in Gwange general area.
“Two of the suicide bombers detonated explosives on their bodies in two different residential buildings killing eight persons and injuring 11 others.
“The third suicide bomber detonated his explosive in another area killing himself alone.
“The forth female suicide bomber was arrested that same night but she died as a result of injuries she had sustained,” Chukwu said.
He said that another set of bombers later returned to the university around 0408 hours in the morning.
“Today at about 0408 hours, two suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives on their bodies within the premises of the university.
“One detonated close to the Entrepreneurship Centre killing herself alone with no other casualty, while the other detonated behind Works Department Complex also killing herself alone,” he said.
Chukwu said that the police anti explosion unit had been mobilised to the scenes, while the injured were evacuated to hospital for medical treatment.
Kashim Shetimma, the Governor of Borno State had on Sunday descibed the recent spate of Boko Haram attacks by Boko Haram worrying in the state as worrying.
The Governor who spoke after the Eid-el-Fitr prayers to mark the end of Ramadan fast in Maiduguri saud, “We have to commend President Muhammadu Buhari and the military for their efforts in fighting the Boko Haram insurgents.
“But in the last two weeks, we have had tremendous security challenges in Damboa, in Chibok, in Maiduguri and in all nooks and crannies of the state.
“We were literary attacked by the insurgents from different angles.
“Yes, we had recorded lots of successes before’’.
“We witnessed lots of setbacks in a short while. All hands must be on deck for us to have lasting peace in this part of the world.
“It is not for us to take two steps forward and one step backwards, it is not for us to wake up to be reluctant to open our phones for fear of getting uncomplimentary stories about attacks in the state,’’ he said.