By Jutah Gupah, Maiduguri
The Borno State Police Commissioner, Damian Chukwu says a male suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber attacked a mosque, killing eight worshippers in Konduga town of Borno in the early hours of Monday. Chukwu disclosed this on Monday at a news conference in Maiduguri, while announcing the casualties of the suicide mosque dawn attack. According to him, the suspect, who disguised as a worshiper also injured six people, before evacuating them to hospital for treatment. His words: “The suicide bomber took advantage of the dawn morning prayers in mosque, when he detonated his hidden strapped Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that blew him up, including seven other people. “One of the seven injured, however gave up the ghost this morning, while being transported to the State’s Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri for treatment.” He said that the Mairani area has been sanitized for people continue with the daily activities. He called on the public to be “security conscious” on suspecting movements and activities of individuals and groups of people. Meanwhile, the police also with support of Civilian JTF and hunters engaged nine Boko Haram terrorist suspects on Saturday in Galte village of Nganzai council. The Police chief further disclosed that during the encounter, two suspects were killed with the arrest of two others. According to him, five suspects however managed to escape with the recovery of four rifles and 22 rounds of ammunition. He said while interrogating the arrested suspects, they confessed that they came from Sambisa Forest on a mission to rustle cattle. “The rustling of cattle was at the behest of their Commander, Bukar Bulama now deceased, whose body was recovered by our men,” said Chukwu. He added that the arrested terrorists confessed that they left Sambisa Forest armed with five AK-47 rifles on foot to rustle cattle in the council. Speaking on the twin suspects, he said that Babagna Muhammad, 34, and Abba Goni Saleh, 17; are natives of Gwange ward, Maiduguri and Dikwa council of Borno state. He said that the suspects, who are still on the run, include Baba Mai Goro, Abba Ngumuri, Mamman Dikwa, Kalli Dikwa and Adam Dikwa. He said even though there were no casualties on side of police, a Civilian JTF commander, Mohammed Umar, however shot in the hand and responding to treatment.
