31 killed in Bornu attacks

1. Thirty one people have been killed in a fresh attack by bombers in Borno state – The attack took place on Saturday June 16, at Damboa town in Borno state – Many other were said to have also sustained various degrees of injury from the attack Attacks from two bombers have reportedly left 31 people dead in Damboa town of Borno state, BBC reports. The attackers were said to have launched their attacks only few hours after the chief of Army staff, Tukur Buratai, appealed to some internally displaced persons in the state to return to their communities. It was gathered that two explosions which were followed by a rockets hit the village in Saturday evening killing 31 and leaving many others injured.

Also, Channels TV reports that villagers in Abachari town were observing the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations when the explosion occurred. Confirming the attack, the Borno state commissioner of police Damian Chukwu, said the explosion occurred around 8.25pm. Chukwu said: “Around 20:25 a loud explosion was heard around Damboa/Chibok road. The DPO mobilised with our men from the SARS and civilian JTF to the scene and found twenty people dead and 48 others injured.” He added that the injured persons have been taken to Damboa General hospital while some others were conveyed to the Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri for specialists’ for medical attention.

However, the theatre commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole Major General Rogers Nicholas debunked reports that the explosion was from military artillery. According to Nicholas, six suiicide bombers were responsible for the explosion. He also said troops are on the ground to stabilise the affected area and forestall any further untoward occurrence.

Meanwhile, it was earlier reported that the Army chief had called on internally displaced persons in Borno north to return home to restart their lives as their communities are now safe and secure. Buratai made the call at the inauguration of nine gunboats for the Amphibious Task Force Detachment at Baga, for patrol and clearing the remaining Boko Haram terrorists from the Lake Chad waterways. He urged the people to leverage on the deployment of Operation Last Hold to return to their communities which have long been liberated by our gallant troops.