A double suicide attack in a northeastern Nigerian market on Sunday is believed to have been conducted by two young girls aged only 7 or 8. One person was killed in the blasts and 18 others were injured.
Boko Haram Islamist militant group didn’t claim responsibility of the suicide attacks yet, but believed to have plotted the operation in Maiduguri, capital of Borno.
The group often uses girls or women in such attacks and especially if those are implemented in Borno state, which is the epicentre of their insurgency.
According to Borno state governor Kashim Shettima, one person was killed in the attacks. He briefed to journalists while visiting wounded victims in hospital. He told would be meeting the market officials, security agents and civilian vigilantes too for strengthening security at market places.
Militia member Abdulkarim Jabo said he had seen the attackers just before the first explosion who got out of a rickshaw and without showing any sign of emotion walked in front of him.
Jabo added he felt the girls were looking for their mother. He tried to speak to one of them in English as well as in Hausa, but failed to get any reply from the girls.
The member further said, “She headed toward the poultry sellers, and then detonated her explosives belt.”
The second blast occurred later as bystanders tried to help the injured victims.
Local emergency management agency Bello Dambatta said they removed seventeen wounded victims from the spot.
