It was a bloody Saturday for residents and the government of Borno State as three suicide attacks in different parts of the State capital, Maiduguri, killed 58 residents and injured146 others.
The Commissioner of Police Borno in the State, Clement Adoda, gave the figure, but witnesses said the figure could be more than what was officially announced. Also hospitals in the state capital spent the entire day battling to save the lives of the wounded.
It was learnt that the first attack happened at the popular Fish Market located at the Baga Park. According to witnesses, the suicide bomber, a female, alighted from a tricycle at the market and immediately detonated the explosives strapped on her body.
Among the dead were a lot of men, a few women and children who were either with their parents trading, or carrying out business activities to earn a living.
“The first attack occurred at about 11:20 am and it was bloody,” Haruna Ismaheel, a journalist, confirmed to Huhuonline.com on phone. “About an hour later while rescue efforts were still ongoing, another attack occurred somewhere else around the Monday Market. I’m tired of Maiduguri oh!”
The chairman of the union in the market, Abubakar Gamandi, also told journalists that the bomb blast occurred at a crowded area of the market.
While the first attack resulted in the instant death of about 40 people, the second blast, which occurred at the popular Monday Market, resulted in the death of 10 people.
Just one hour later after the second blast, the third one occurred. The blast went off at a Borno Express Bus Terminal known for its crowd.
Though no curfew was imposed, the entire Maiduguri became silent after as many scampered to their houses in fear of other explosions.
The Commissioner of Justice in the state, Kaka Shehu, confirmed the incidents on behalf of the government, saying the recent attacks were as a result of the anger of the sect at the various defeats it has suffered in the hands of the multi-national troops.
Condemning the attack later in the day, the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, an indigene of Maiduguri, asked Nigerians and the world to join in condemning the attacks.
In a personally signed statement, Wakil said the attacks on the markets as well as areas of Bulunkuntu, were the most unfortunate in recent times perpetrated by those who are bent on carrying out crimes against humanity.
He said the targets of the Boko Haram are women, children and the elderly, adding that bombing civilian targets is a crime against humanity.
“I call on Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch and other similar groups to deploy resources towards documenting for indictments the leaders of Boko Haram.
“Boko Haram leaders should face trial at the ICC,” the statement read.
