BEVERLY HILLS, January 27, (THEWILL) – Two suspected female suicide bombers have attacked a market in Chibok town, Borno state, killing 14 persons and causing injuries on 24 others, residents of the town said on Wednesday.
One of the residents of the town, Abel Abugu, who spoke with THEWILL, said the attack initially left eight dead on the spot and 30 others injured. But six more persons among the injured later lost their lives at the hospital.
Chibok was the town where over 200 girls were abducted by the insurgency group, Boko Haram over a year ago.
It was also gathered that the market was shut after the abduction of the schoolgirls but only to be reopened on Wednesday when it was attacked.
“The market was only open today (Wednesday) and the suicide bombers hit the market at exactly 12:54 pm. Eight people died at the spot while over 30 were rushed to the General Hospital Uba in Askira local government with two of the victims in critical condition,” Abugu said.
Another resident of Chibok, Abraham Pogu, told our correspondent on phone that the suicide bombers hatched the attack despite the heavy presence of security men in the town.
He claimed that the residents had kicked against the reopening of the market but some people said that normalcy has return insisting on re-opening the market.
“I cannot understand the reason why government is insisting that normalcy has return when you cannot go to Chibok from Maiduguri through Damboa?” he queried.
“The road is still close because Boko Haram are still operating 21 kilometres away from Maiduguri.
“Today, they open the market and we lost eight people on the spot with over 30 hospitalized. From what we are being told now as we speak some of the people who were taken to the hospital gave up as soon as they reached the hospital in Uba.”
Story by David Oputah
