Blast kills Army Lieutenant, 31 others in Maiduguri

 A  massive blast from an improvised  explosive device,  yesterday, in Maidugiri reportedly killed an Army lieutenant, a soldier and 30 civilians.

The  explosive was planted and targeted at a Hilux patrol vehicle of the Joint Task Force (JTF) by some suspected terrorists along Lagos Street of Gwange ward of Maiduguri, Borno State. The JTF, however, denied that an officer was killed  in the explosion.

Meanwhile, Nigeria and Canada have resolved to cooperate to enhance the operational capabilities of Nigerian security services to enable them respond adequately to internal and regional security challenges.

Also consumed by the blast were over 100 houses and 50 vehicles on the streets close to the explosion.

It would be recalled that last Sunday, a similar incident happened along Gwange Lagos Street when some suspected terrorists detonated an IED at a patrol vehicle of the Task Force which led to the killing of two soldiers including a serving Lieutenant Colonel who later died in a hospital.

Yesterday’s blast which occurred  around 7:15 a.m sparked off volleys of gun shots from JTF soldiers   leading to death of many civilians along the busiest road linking University of Maiduguri and the  Teaching Hospital. Some people were trapped in their houses  when the JTF forces descended on the town.

Vanguard gathered that some suspected terrorists were killed by the JTF soldiers although the number could not be ascertained because the area was cordoned off by JTF.

An eye witness who does not want his name mentioned told our correspondent that more than 50 people including some suspected terrorists were killed, while hundreds of houses and shops belonging to residents of Gwange were razed in the incident.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, who visited the area amidst tight security, sympathised with the victims and promised that as soon as Governor Kashim Shettima who  travelled  to India, Pakistan and Turkey comes back, government will compensate them.

Confirming the incident, JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa in a text message to journalists in Maiduguri said  Boko Haram Islamic sect detonated an IED targeting  a Hilux Patrol vehicle of the JTF which injured two soldiers aboard the vehicle.

Sagir, however, said no army personnel was killed in the blast, insisting that only two of his men were seriously injured and were taken to University of Maiduguri for treatment.

Source:Vanguard