By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army on Monday admitted that there were suicide bomb attacks on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday, even though it said troops were able to prevent the group from wrecking a major havoc on the city.

Coordinator of the counter-insurgency in the northeast, Yushau Abubakar, a Major General, in a media briefing in Maiduguri on Monday told journalists that at least 14 female suicide bombers, between the ages of 12 and 18, had tried to force their way into the state capital but encountered soldiers who were able to kill seven and arrest one of them.

Three were said to have detonated their explosive devices killing at least 25 people and injuring 85 others.  Unfortunately, however, three escaped.

Represented by the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Lamidi Adeosun, also Major General, Abubakar noted that the suspects’ intentions were to carry out coordinated attacks through Asmari, Damboa check point, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, Jumari villages, all at the outskirts of Maidugri.

“I believe they (our troops) have averted what would have been a major disaster if they (suicide bombers) had gained entrance into Maiduguri,” the commander said.

Explaining how one of the bombers gained access to unsuspecting citizens, he said: “One of them went to a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque and blew off herself killing 1 person while 13 others injured.”

Abubakar explained that due to the degrading of the group’s capacity to launch major attacks, it has resorted to attacking soft targets and laying ambush on troops, which recently led to the loss of four soldiers at Mairari along Maiduguri Monguno and Firgi.

He appealed to residents to be on alert and report any suspicious activities or persons to security agents.