Explosion averted in Borno, two arrested

The Nigerian Army said on Thursday it averted a bomb blast in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, after defusing an Improvised Explosive Device planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Gomari, Maiduguri.
Colonel Sani Usman, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, who made this known in a statement in Maiduguri, said the incident took place on Wednesday.
The statement said: “Troops of 7 Division recovered and successfully detonated Improvised Explosive Device planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists that came in a tricycle in Gomari, Maiduguri, on Wednesday in conjunction with Nigeria Police Explosive Ordinance Device team.
“The development has necessitated the call for more vigilance and security consciousness on the part of everyone, especially the residents of Maiduguri and its environs.
“The fight against the menace of Boko Haram terrorists is a collective responsibility that requires positive contribution from all citizenry.
“People should please be wary of suspicious persons or objects and report same to the nearest security agency or post.”
Usman said troops of the Nigerian Army had also arrested two suspected Boko Haram terrorists after a clearance operation in some enclaves located in Buhari, Matari and Kaidiri villages in Damasak in Borno.
He said a joint patrol team of Sector 1 of 27 Task Force Brigade and Army Headquarters Strike Group on Thursday cleared Boko Haram terrorist’s enclaves in Buhari, Matari and Kaidiri villages, located some kilometers to Damasak, Borno State.
He said: “Unfortunately, the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists at Kaidiri on sighting the patrol team chickened out and withdrew in disarray into Niger Republic with gunshot wounds.
“The troops pursued them and got two Boko Haram terrorists.”
Usman added that the troops also recovered seven motorcycles and borehole equipment at the hideouts of the terrorists.