THE Nigerian Army on Friday said it had averted another blast in Borno following the intercep­tion of two suspected suicide bombers near Maiduguri.
Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Nigerian Army Pub­lic Relations, said this in a state­ment issued in Maiduguri.
Usman said that the inter­ception was done 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 1.20a.m (Friday), almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri,’’ he said.
Usman added:“ 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.
“The situation in the area is calm and law abiding citizens are going about their normal activities without fear,’’ the state­ment read in part.