Eyewitness: "Bomb Blasts in Borno, 6 Soldiers Feared Dead, Others Injured"

According to eyewitnesses' reports, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) has torn a JTF vehicle apart killing six and injuring two JTF personnel in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The explosion allegedly occured at about 11:47am at the UBA bank round about in Post Office area. The accident comes barely 24 hours after unidentified gunmen attacked three schools within the metropolis, killing teachers and pupils.

Eyewitness who gives the account of the explosion says he was about going into the Union Bank when he heard the heavy explosion only to turn back and discover that the soldiers' Hilux vehicle, which was coming behind, was torn apart by the heavy impact.

"I couldn't go into the bank again as I ran to go and meet my wife in the shop. I actually passed the military vehicle while I was coming there were four soldiers at the back, two in the passengers cabin and the driver with another in the front.

"It was horrendous as the bodies were littered on the ground. People who were close and at vintage position said only two out of the eight in the vehicle seemed to be alive."

He described the situation in Maiduguri as very unfortunate and called on the Federal Government to do something serious about such happenings - even if it means declaring a state of emergency in the state.

His words: "I think from the way things are turning in the state, the point that some politicians are making in the past may sound reasonable for this situation. I mean, the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency in Borno so that we would know that we are in a militarized zone."

Another eyewitness narrates that, though he did not see a civilian killed when the soldiers arrived at the scene of the incident, the gunfire may have hit some civilians.

"As I am talking to you now, I am in one of the shops at Ramat Shopping Complex. You can hear the gunshots, the soldiers are already there and it is no good at all," he said.

The JTF spokesman, Lt Col. Sagir Musa could not be reached as at the time of report and there are no confirmation from the police as the state commission of Police, Yuguda Abdullahi could not answer his calls.