By Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
SUNRISE NEWS, Borno, August 1, 2020 The Nigeria Police Borno State Command has given an update on the death toll of Thursday night’s mortar bomb attacks on Maiduguri, the state capital.
The State Police Commissioner Mohammed Aliyu told journalists in Maiduguri that five more dead bodies were recovered at different locations between last night Thursday and Friday.
According to him, 27 persons were injured and are receiving treatment at different hospitals including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents, on Thursday night fired four mortar bombs into Maiduguri metropolis at the time many Muslims were making last minute preparations for Eid-Kabir celebration.
The loud sound of explosions sent many residents scampering for safety and businesses abruptly closed.
The insurgents were reported to have launched the mortar bombs at soft targets in Gwange 2 Primary School, Customs Area near Mansur Motors, and Gidan Ayaba Ngudiba line, all in Maiduguri city.
CP Aliyu while providing the details disclosed that the recovered victims included one female at Gwange 2, and five others, killed from the explosions at different locations in the metropolis.
He added that the incident caused the police command in the state in conjunction with other sister security organisations to deploy 7,000 men to fortify the city.
“Also deployed are personnel from the Explosive Ordinance Department(EOD), Special Anti-Robbery Squad men with armoured vehicles and sniffer dogs, Civilian Joint Task Force, Hunters and the Rapid Response Squad to secure the outskirt of the city,” CP Aliyu informed.