The Borno State Police Command said on Monday that a total of 12 persons were killed, while 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries in multiple suicide bomb attacks in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, made this known while confirming the attack at a news briefing in Maiduguri.
Chukwu said that the death toll included four female suicide bombers.
The commissioner, however, disclosed that soldiers deployed to Mammanti and Cimeri area foiled an attempt by three other suicide female bombers to penetrate Maiduguri metropolis.
He said that two of the attackers were intercepted and killed by soldiers at about 11:59pm on Sunday at Mammanti village in Konduga Local Government Area.
Chukwu said the military also intercepted and killed one suicide bomber who tried to enter Maiduguri at Cimeri area of Mafa Local Government Area.
He said that the fourth suicide bomber denoted the explosive strapped on her body at a mosque at about 4.30am in London Ciki area on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
He said: “The suicide bomber detonated IED, blew herself up and killed eight persons.
“Security operatives have foiled three of the attempted suicide bomb attacks while only one of them carried out the attack and all the four suicide bombers were killed in the attack.”
Chukwu added that all the attacks occurred at the outskirts of the metropolis.
According to him, those wounded in the attacks were rushed to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to protect lives and property, urging the people to be vigilant and provide useful information to security agencies.
Chukwu added that the command had adopted other practical steps to enhance security and check further suicide bomb attacks in the state.