•Boko Haram recruiting new members –FG
From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri and Molly Kilete, Abuja
A Boko Haram female suicide bomber has killed 15 people and injuring 15 in Biu, Borno Sate. This is even as the Federal Government said yesterday that the Islamist sect is recruiting more fighters.
Witnesses said the lady had strolled into the Biu market at about 3.15pm yesterday and headed to a section where vegetables are sold. “She walked down to where vegetables are sold and then started buying some soap ingredients near the vegetable section of the market at about 3:15 pm,” Usman Adamu, who was in the market told Daily Sun.
He said little did others around her know that she was a suicide bomber until a loud sound, causing death and destruction. He said many scampered for safety as the blast wreaked havoc in the market.
A security source said some angry youths almost caused more confusion in their reactions to the incident as they stormed the area, destroying flags, posters and bill-boards of a political party. The source said the combined team of soldiers and policemen in the town have put “everything under control,” saying normalcy has returned to Biu as at press time.
Hospital sources said 15 bodies were brought to the hospital, adding that 20 injured persons are already receiving treatment.
Biu, about 185 kilometres, south of Maiduguri, the state capital, has witnessed relative peace until early January when Boko Haram, in a convoy of about 14 vehicles, invaded the town. However, troops and some youth vigilante foiled the attack.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said yesterday that Boko Haram has commenced recruitment and training of more fighters, in a desperate move to counter the military’s onslaught.
According to the government, intelligence report has shown that the insurgents are recruiting innocent villagers from the North-East and using places, like Mairi and Dupcha (all in Borno State) as training camps to induct the new recruits.
It has therefore, called on residents of these areas and indeed, the general public to exercise vigilance and continue to support the effort of the military to ensure hitch-free elections and a return to normalcy in the shortest possible time.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC), on the war against insurgency, Mr. Mike Omeri, who made the revelation at a press briefing in Abuja, said: “In the general effort to contain acts of insurgency in the North-East and secure the entire area for the forthcoming general elections, the centre wishes to alert the general public on very recent intelligence reports, which indicated a considerable movement of Boko Haram recruits from such locations as Geidam, Mairi and Dupcha (all in Borno State) to training camps within the general area.”
THE SUN
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