Bomb Blast Kills Six Women at IDP Screening Centre

Six women were killed on Sunday during the screening of new intakes of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled to Maiduguri, Chairman of Borno State Emergency Agency (SEMA), Mr. Ahmed Satomi, told THISDAY on the phone.

Satomi said the incident occurred around Muna garage at about 11 am during the screening of persons who had fled Dikwa area of the state.

According to him, people fleeing from Dikwa and its environs were screened at Muna garage, the entry point into Maiduguri from that axis of the state.

He said: “Since the IDPs were coming voluntarily into the town, it was decided that they had to be screened at the entrance to the town to prevent the insurgents from mingling with them.

“Those that are successfully screened would be admitted into one of the IDP camps established within Maiduguri. But it was unfortunate that just when the screening was ongoing, one woman with an explosive device strapped on her rammed into others causing the death of six women including herself. Six other persons were injured.”

Satomi revealed that “of the six injured, three are critical and may have a slim chance of survival”.

He added that during the screening, two men suspected to be members of the terror group Boko Haram were arrested.

He said the “two are being held by security agencies for further screening and perhaps detention”.

A member of the youth vigilante group, Abba Yusuf, who participated in the screening, however told THISDAY on the phone that seven women were killed in the explosion.

Abba said six other persons were injured including three members of the vigilante group who were involved in the screening of the displaced persons attempting to gain access into Maiduguri.

According to him, over 350 persons had already been screened and were sitting at a petrol station within the vicinity of Muna garage.

Some were still being screened at the screening point when the incident occurred, he said.
He explained that one of the women who was yet to be screened rammed into others on the queue waiting to be screened, detonating the bomb strapped on her.

Confirming the incident, the Borno State Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, in a text message stated: “Yes, at 1040 hours of Sunday, 22/11/15, a suspected female suicide bomber while approaching Mafa checkpoint on foot at Galimari village detonated an IED strapped to her body in the midst of a crowd trying to enter Maiduguri.”

However, his text showed that the explosion killed eight persons including the bomber, while eight others were injured.

“Scene of the incident was visited, and the victims and corpses conveyed to hospital. Investigation is in progress and the area is now safe,” he added.
Credits:  THISDAY