20 Killed, 48 Injured in yet Another Attack on Borno Town

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

No fewer that 20 persons were killed and 48 others injured in a massive explosion in Damboa, Borno State, the state Police Command said on Sunday.

According to the police, the explosion, which cause remained a mystery, occurred on Saturday night.

The police in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer Okon Edet said: “On 16/06/18 at about 2045hrs, an explosion occurred at Abachari area, outskirts of Damboa L.G.A. of Borno State.

“At the sound of the explosion, personnel of the Nigeria police and members of the civilian JTF mobilised to the scene discovered twenty dead bodies and 48 injured persons in a suspected terrorist attack.

“The wounded and the dead were evacuated to a hospital while scene was sanitized by a deployment of police EOD unit.”

Edet said: “Investigation is ongoing to unravel the nature of the attack.”

He said: “The Commissioner of Police Borno State, CP Damian Chukwu urges members of the public to continue to be vigilant and watchful. He also urges them to always provide useful information to the security agencies for necessary actions.”

All attempts to get the nature of the attack from other sources have proved unsuccessful as the bad GSM network in the area seems to keep everyone in the limbo.

A respected member of the Civilian Joint Task Force in the state, Abba Aji Kalli, told THISDAY on phone that the attack was revealed to the youth vigilante group but the number of casualties and cause of the attack have not be known as it was difficult to get in touch with people in the area because of bad GSM network in the area.

The Saturday’s attack has left a dent on the otherwise peaceful Sallah celebration.

The police had deployed over 5,000 policemen all over the state to forestall any security breach during the Islamic festival even as vehicular movement was banned on Friday, the day the festival was celebrated all over the world.

Related Articles