Dozens feared killed as explosions hit Borno market

MORE than 20 people were killed when multiple explosions, believed to be Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), rocked a market in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State yesterday.
Eyewitness and vigilance group sources confirmed the incident. They said more than 50 others were injured in the aftermath of the explosions, suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists.
But, nemesis caught up with the insurgents in Cameroon where troops killed 10 of them and arrested many.
The explosions that occurred at Sabon Gari Market in Damboa, was said to have occurred at about 1.30pm, the peak of transactions at the ware point.
According to a source, the IEDs were planted at the centre of the market and was detonated when activities at the market had peaked, killing many traders.
A trader at the market from Biu said the attackers disguised like Fulani women, hawking cow milk and walked into the market and dropped the supposed cow milk containers and left before the two containers went off.
The source said: “It was terrible. What we saw. The insurgents sent some women, who came into the market pretending to be Fulani women selling cow milk (Nono) and dropped their calabashes, laden with explosives and left.
“Nobody suspected this action until the calabashes exploded, killing many people at the market. I couldn’t count the number of people that died but many dead bodies were littered the ground. It was horrible to look at.”
A Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) member from Biu, who pleaded for anonymity, told our correspondent on phone that, “48 people were killed in Sabon Gari Market this (yesterday) afternoon when bombs exploded at the centre of market.”
A local vigilance, who gave his name as Adulmimini, said: “We heard loud explosions at about 1: 35pm. When we got there, people were scattered. It was not suicide bombers but the explosives were planted at the centre of the market. We don’t have figure but many people died. I saw many dead bodies with some completely shattered beyond recognition.”
A source at the Biu General Hospital, who apparently, was attending to victims, said he was too busy to talk when our correspondent called him on the telephone.
“Which one is more important to talk to you, or attend to the victims?” he asked.
But Police Commissioner Aderemi Opadokun said a male suicide bomber detonated IEDs strapped on his body.
“Reports we just received indicates that at about 14:45 hours, there was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion at Sabon Gari market in Damboa LGA.
“A suspected male suicide bomber, who strapped the IED around his body, detonated it in the open and many people died and about 30 injured,” Opadokun said.
He said that the injured victims had been evacuated to Biu General Hospital for treatment.
“Investigation is in progress on the issue,” Opadokun said.
Cameroonian forces killed 10 Boko Haram fighters and arrested several others, it was learnt yesterday.
Col. Jacob Kodji, who confirmed the killings,   said that hundreds of fighters entered the border town of Ashigashia early yesterday, shooting into the air.
He said the insurgents retreated when reinforcements arrived to back the Cameroonian soldiers.
According to Col. Kodji, two soldiers were seriously wounded and 10 attackers were killed. He also said that some arrests were made.