6 suicide bombers arrested as insurgents kill 6, abduct 4 women in Borno

By Ndahi Marama
MAIDUGURI — NO fewer than six people were killed on Tuesday evening, while four women were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents, who invaded Bale Mamman village, near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

This came as six suspected suicide bombers were, yesterday, arrested by members of the civilian JTF and paraded at Sector 4 located at Milk Shop in Maiduguri.

Bale Mamman village is Shuwa Arab and herdsmen community located on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the state capital.

Although there was no official confirmation from the Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, as his phone lines were not reachable at press time, many residents of Maiduguri metropolis could not sleep on Tuesday night, following the sounds of gunfire from the affected area.

A reliable security source, who is not authorised to speak to the press, said: “The notorious and acclaimed Islamic militants (Boko Haram) stormed a remote village of Bale Mamman, in the outskirts of Maiduguri last night (Tuesday night) in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, killing six civilians and succeeded in abducting four women.”

A resident of the area, who fled to Maiduguri but did not want his name in print for security reason, said the terrorists came at about 6:30p.m. and killed six people before abducting four women.

Another resident, who simply gave his name as Ali Bale, said: “We fled into bushes last night (Tuesday) when we heard sporadic gunshots targeting anybody on sight.

“Unfortunately, when we came back this morning (yesterday), we discovered that all our cattle, rams and foodstuffs were looted by the attackers.”

A local vigilante, Abba Kolomi, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the terrorists killed four men and two children, abducted some women and carted away many cattle, rams and foodstuffs.

Meanwhile, the arrest of the six suspected suicide bombers in Maiduguri, is coming less than 48 hours after suicide bombers attacked Sabon Gari Market in Damboa Local Government Area, killing dozens and barely 12 hours after local vigilante in Damboa reported threat letters warning of more attacks found at the scene of the blasts.

The latest arrest of the suspects, according to sources, took place in the evening as traders and buyers were rushing home after the close of business.

A member of the civilian JTF at the milk shop in Maiduguri, Umar Hassan, told Vanguard that the suspects hid improvise explosive devices, IEDs, under the basket they used for hawking medicine.