Troops avert major suicide bomb attack in Borno

Troops have prevented a major suicide bomb attack in Gamborou in Ngala Local government area of Borno State.

Two female suicide bombers were killed by troops before activating the improvised explosive device strapped to their bodies in the town.

Another was intercepted and her improvised explosive device defused.

Spokesman of the Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement that the two killed bombers were intercepted by troops on patrol while attempting to infiltrate Ungwae Yobe in the town.

The statement added that all efforts and entreaties by the patrol team to make the suicide bombers remove their IED vests failed as the duo adamantly approached the troops armed with their IED vests.

They were immediately neutralised by the troops, while the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD) safely unstrapped and detonated the suicide vests.

It stated also that a third female suicide bomber was detected and intercepted within the same general area and subsequently confessed to the joint patrol that she and the other two terrorists had been dispatched at about 3.30 am on Tuesday to unleash mayhem on Gamboru town.

She also revealed the location she had hid her suicide vest and led the troops to recover it. The recovered vests and the surviving suicide bomber have been taken into custody for further interrogations.

It will be recalled that 10 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack in a mosque in the town, last January 3.