Four suspected female suicide bombers intercepted by Nigerian troops and members of the Borno Youths Empowerment Group near a checkpoint about 25km from the city of Maiduguri were killed today, army spokesman Sani Kukasheka Usman said in a press statement.
One of the women detonated her vest, he explained, but the others were killed before they could detonate theirs. The Nigeria Police Explosive Ordinance Device team in the area safely detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Device they carried.
He said a preliminary investigation revealed that the potential suicide bombers had earlier been observed trying to bypass a military checkpoint in a nearby village before they were ordered to take the right road.
A few metres short of the checkpoint, Colonel Usman said, one of the women swiftly detonated her vest.
“The vigilant troops gunned down the other three suspected suicide bombers before they carry out their nefarious acts,” the statement added.
Col. Usman stated that a member of the youth group, also known as Civilian JTF, was also killed in the incident while four others received various injuries.
He described the security situation in the area as being calm.