Female Bombers Kill 12, Injure 32 in Maiduguri

Two female bombers on Wednesday attacked a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, killing 12 and injuring 32 persons. According to coordinator Abba Aji of the civilian self-defense Vigilante Group, one bomber blew herself up inside the mosque and the second waited outside to detonate as survivors tried to escape.



Abdul Mohammed of the State Emergency Management Agency had confirmed that 17 people were injured and evacuated to the hospital but that seems to have risen to 32.

According to Umar Usman, a resident, he escaped the attack because he arrived the mosque late. "We were just a few meters away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around," he told AP.

The mosque is in the Boko Haram stronghold of Umarari on the outskirts of the city that is the command center of the Nigerian military’s war against Boko Haram Islamic insurgents.

Several suicide bombers have exploded in recent months at roadblocks leading into the city manned by the military and vigilantes, indicating success in preventing attackers from reaching crowded areas.

It is the first attack on Maiduguri since December 28, when Boko Haram attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and multiple suicide bombers, killing at least 50 people.