Boko Haram attacks claim 9 lives

■10 injured

FROM TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, MAIDUGURI

EIGHT people including two suicide bombers have been killed in a bomb attack in a mosque in Borno’s southern town of Damboa.

Boko Haram also killed three persons in another attack on a village.

Two bombers believed to be Boko Haram targeting Muslim worshippers in Damboa mosque detonated explo­sive devices yesterday about 5.15am. Sources in the town said nine persons including the bombers were killed while 10 were injured.

Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Us­man confirmed the attack in a state­ment, putting the casualty figure at 6. He said the first bomber who was targeting Damboa Central Mosque could not gain entry due to what he called, “stringent security” while, the second one blew herself up

“At the early hours of Friday about 5.15am, two Boko Haram suicide bombers attacked Damboa. The first suicide bomber targeted Damboa Central Mosque but due to stringent security measures, he could not gain entry. Obvi­ously frustrated, he detonated the device and died near the central mosque,” he said.

“The second bomber veered off and gained entry into another smaller mosque and detonated the bomb kill­ing himself and 6 other wor­shippers and injuring one,” he said in the statement said.

He said the injured person has been evacuated to hospi­tal for treatment. “Troops and other security agencies have been mobilised to the area,” he added.

Meanwhile, Boko Haram has attacked Gaskeri village near Dalori, killing three vigilantes. They also looted foodstuffs and livestock, the army said.