Dozens Killed in Latest Boko Haram's Hit at Soft Targets

• Military cuts off terrorists’ supply routes

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri with agency reports

About 50 people were killed in yesterday’s bomb attacks in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, which has been described as the worst attacks in the city since the futile attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to seize it in January.
Eyewitness accounts said the explosions occurred at two of the city’s markets simultaneously at about 12pm and a bus terminus. Though there was no immediate official statement on the casualty figures, a source put the number of persons killed at Baga Market at 36 (with over 70 injured) while the number of those killed at Monday Market and Borno Express Bus Terminus stood at 12 (with 20 injured) and two (with 10 injured), respectively.

The casualty figures, a member of the youth vigilante group who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity corroborated, were recorded from all the three locations attacked.
According to a trader, who identified himself to Reuters as Mohammad Ajia, a tricycle rider had attempted to smuggle a bomb into a fish market on the Baga road in the west of Maiduguri. The bomb was said to have exploded when the tricycle was prevented from going in, the trader had said after fleeing the scene.
The second blast, a member of the civilian joint task force  said,  hit the Monday market before a car bomb exploded by a bus station near a Department of State Security (DSS) office. "Men from the anti-bomb squad came a few minutes after the blast to comb the scene, then they started evacuating victims. I saw five mangled bodies being put in vehicles," Aliyu Musa, a resident in the area near the DSS office, said.
A Maiduguri resident, Ibrahim Ishaq who spoke to THISDAY on phone described the attacks as massive and said: "I just saw a Red Cross ambulance conveying those that were killed to the mortuary."
Also, the spokesman of the youth vigilante group in Borno State, Barrister Jubrin Gunda, alleged the bomb attacks were carried out by suicide bombers at three spots, noted for their heavy human traffic.
The news of the blasts forced the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, to cut short his campaign trip to parts of the state.
The governor, who was in Marama in Hawul Local Government Area, to launch the Food for All Initiative programme in the area, had to leave the venue of the occasion at about 3pm when he was informed about the incident.
Speaking to THISDAY from Marama, the Chairman of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Grema Terab, said "it was unfortunate this incidents in Maiduguri today."
According to him, "I am in Marama with the governor to launch the Food for All Initiative, where we are targeting to feed 1000 in Hawul local government but heard the sad event in Maiduguri. Our men are at present on rescue operation and the evacuation of the dead.
"I am yet to be informed of the number of casualties at the three spots by it is sadly massive."
Meanwhile most of the major roads in the city have been cordoned off by the military. It would be recalled that suspected Boko Haram militants had tried to seize the city at the end of January but were driven back in a battle that claimed the lives of over 100 people.
In a related development, the Nigerian military aided by the troops of the Lake Chad Basin Commission countries recorded a strategic victory against the Boko Haram Islamic Sect by the liberation of two Local Government Areas in Borno State, which have effectively cutoff the terrorist's international supply route.
This development, consequently, have paved way for the final onslaught against the terrorists, who are now encircled on all fronts, with their territorial hold grossly depleted in the last few weeks.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said that the Nigeria Military in continuation of their avowed recovery of territories held by Boko Haram insurgents have recaptured Mafa and Marte Local Governments Areas of Borno State on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
During these operations, Usman said, the gallant and courageous troops recovered a large quantity of high caliber of arms and ammunitions including anti-aircraft guns from the insurgents.
He noted that the Nigerian troops did not suffer any casualty during these operations.
Presently, he added, troops are conducting cordon and search and mopping up operations in the recovered territories, while effort is ongoing to recover more grounds from the fleeing terrorists.
According to Usman, "with the capture of Mafa, Marte LGAs, and the Chadian troops holding forte in Dikwa, the international route from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic is now fully secured.
"With this positive development, the security of the area has significantly improved".
"It is hoped that international trade and socio-economic activities would be restored along this corridor," he said.
Also yesterday, troops recaptured Buni Yadi town, the headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area and Buni Yari town, both in Yobe state.