Bomb hits Buhari Housing Estate

Multiple bomb blasts have just occurred at Buhari Housing Estate in Damaturu, Yobe state.

The State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) has confirmed 16 people dead.

According to reports, the explosions were heard in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, in the early hours of this morning, October 7.

The first attack was reportedly carried out by three teenage boys at a mosque inside Buhari Estate.

An eyewitness said the suicide bomber came near the mosque, hugged one of the boys and blew up himself and others nearby.

The injured have been rushed to Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital for treatment.

Reportedly, Nigerian troops repelled an attack on the 120th Task Force Battalion, in Goniri, Yobe state, by members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

News24 reports that the troops clashed with the fleeing insurgents in the early hours of Wednesday.

The casualty figures on the side of Boko Haram were put at more than 100.

According to Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, the acting director of army public relations, seven soldiers died while 1 officer and 8 soldiers were wounded during the encounter.

He said: “During the encounter, the troops have recovered a sizeable arms, ammunitions and other equipment from the terrorists. These include 1 General Purpose Machine Gun, 2 Rocket Propelled Grenades, 9 AK-47 rifles and Belted rounds of 7.62 (NATO) ammunitions. Others were various wires used for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 7 Primed IEDs, different types of Spanners and a Torch Light.”

The Nigerian army has said they are winning the war against Boko Haram insurgency. However, the insurgents are still attacking parts of the country. On October 2, twin bomb blasts occurred in Kuje area and Jukwoyi bus station after the Nyanya bridge in Abuja.

In reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari said despite the attack, the end of the Boko Haram insurgency is near. He also restated his resolve to continue to fight terrorism.