Boko Haram: 26 worshippers dead, 28 injured in Maiduguri mosque attack

•Another blast claims 15 lives

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

A suicide bomber, yesterday, sneaked into a mosque along Ali Kotoko Road, near Monday Market in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, leaving 26 dead  and  28 critically injured, security sources assisting in the  evacuation of victims said.

The incident took place at about 3:45pm when Muslim faithful gathered  to perform their afternoon  prayer.

Unconfirmed sources, however,  revealed that apart from the mosque explosion, another  blast  rocked some area of the Monday Market with  fewer casualty figure.

The incidents came barely 12 hours after Boko Haram gunmen were repelled by the military in Maiduguri, which also claimed many lives.

The mosque explosion, according to Modu Fugu of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), occurred when the prayer session was about to commence  with over five dozens of people in attendance.

“We were  terrified by the loud explosion that rocked the  mosque near bicycle sellers market and other shops when the prayer session was cut  and worshippers fled to  safety. But many were killed and scores injured”, Fugu stated.

Borno State Police Command  confirmed the mosque blast, but said  it was  yet to get the casualty figure. The Red Cross and volunteers were reportedly involved in the rescue operation.

In another incident, yesterday,  15 residents were reportedly dead when suspected members of Boko Haram, in a convoy of vehicles and motorcycles laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), rocket grenades and anti-aircraft guns attacked Malari village in Borno State. 19 others in Bulunkutu Saleke, Gomari and Ajilari areas of the state were said to have been wounded.

The killings, according to Ibrahim Yakubu of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), were caused by the  insurgents’ sporadic gunshots, explosions and shelling on the  four villages that commenced from 12.35 – 2.45 a.m.

Confirming the incident in Maiduguri, a source at Borno Police Command said many residents of Gomari, Bulunkutu Saleke and  Ajilari were killed during the attacks.

 

Boko Haram: 26 worshippers dead, 28 injured in Maiduguri mosque attack