Bomber dies in Borno

One bomber died on Saturday in a failed bid to blow off the Beneisheikh bridge on the safest route into Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

The Beneisheikh bridge is on the Maiduguri/Damaturu highway, which remains perhaps the safest road to and from Maiduguri due to the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

It was leant that an attempt to blow the bridge on Saturday by a suicide bomber failed.

A resident of Beneisheikh, who does not want his name in print, told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday, that the attempt was made just moments after the Muslims Zuhr prayers on Saturday by a male suicide bomber driving a ash-coloured Volkswagen Golf car.

He said the suicide bomber was seen driving towards the military and civilian JTF checkpoints at the tail of the bridge but before he could get to them, the vehicle exploded leaving the driver dead.

He said, “The suicide bomber could not reach his target before the bomb exploded killing him and causing injuries to dozens of roadside hawkers including beggars who take advantage of the security stop to beg alms from motorists.”

A security source which confirmed the incident, said “Normalcy has returned since, there is no problem now. Vehicles are passing and people are also moving as residents are seen in town today unlike yesterday (Saturday) when most of the residents fled the town thinking something might happen.”