Female suicide bombers kill 15 in Chibok market

• Buhari, in Kenya, rallies support against terrorists
• President to address EU on terrorism, anti-graft war

TWO suspected Boko Haram female suicide bombers yesterday attacked Chibok market in Borno State with their strapped Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), killing 15 people. More than 30 other traders were also injured.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Isuku Victor confirmed the attack.
The suicide bombers, according to the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Chibok, Lawan Pogu, burst into the market through the northern flank and detonated two explosives to cause the
havoc, which forced traders to flee.

He said the Chibok market had been shut down since the attack at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in April 14, 2014 where
over 276 female students were abducted by Boko Haram.

“Our local market was opened today, and the suicide bombers hit the market square at 12:54 pm. Eight people died on the spot, while over 30 persons were rushed to the hospital. Two of the victims were in critical condition,” he said.

Mallum Chibok, another resident, also told The Guardian yesterday on phone that: “Despite the presence of security personnel in Chibok town, the Boko Haram insurgents have succeeded in attacking our area which is an indication that the insurgents are everywhere, within and outside the Sambisa Forest.”

He said that some residents and security personnel had kicked against the reopening of the Chibok market but some people said that normalcy had returned to the town and its environs.

“I cannot understand the reason government is insisting that normalcy has returned when you cannot go to Chibok from Maiduguri through Damboa? The road is still closed because Boko Haram insurgents are still operating 21 kilometres away from Maiduguri.

“Our people today (yesterday) opened the market and we lost 15 people at spot with over 30 hospitalized for various injuries sustained in the twin suicide bombings this morning. From what we are being told now as I speak to you, some of the people who were taken to the hospital died as soon as they reached the hospital in Uba, as indicated from the text massage I just received.
Look at it, they said another six more people died making the number 15.”

The attack in Chibok came as President Muhammadu Buhari stressed the need for global community to resolve to act with more determination and vigour against radicalisation and extremist ideologies which encourage terrorism.

Speaking at a memorial service in Eldoret, Kenya in honour of Kenyan soldiers who were killed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia recently, Buhari said that peace-loving nations of the world must now come together and deal with the threat posed to global security by terrorism with greater zeal and cohesion.

A statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, yesterday quoted Buhari as saying “Terrorists should not have a place in our communities, villages, towns, cities and countries. We must all rise against the culture of intolerance, hatred and extremist ideologies, which drive terrorism.

“We must also act with more firmness against radicalization and all those who promote values and principles that threaten our unity and cohesion as a people.