Dep gov, Shehu of Borno escape death as bomb explodes in mosque

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha, and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Ibn Abubakar Umar Garbai El-kanemi,  escaped death on Friday when a juvenile suicide bomber attacked a central mosque in Maiduguri.

At least, 10 persons including the suicide bomber, were killed in the attack, some worshippers told journalists.                                                 

  Worshippers said the faithful were about leaving the mosque after Friday’s prayer when the attack occurred where the Shehu of Borno and other prominent personalities in the town usually worshipped.                         

  It was learnt that the deputy governor and the monarch were whisked away by their security details immediately the suicide bomber lurched into the crowd of worshippers.

 The place was later cordoned off by security men and vehicles diverted from the entire vicinity.

 Confirming the incident, the Field Operations Officer of Joint Task Force, Victor Ebhaleme, said the blast led to the death of five persons outside of a mosque in Maiduguri.                            

He did not rule out the possibility that the deputy governor and the Shehu could be the targets of the attack, but said it was fortunate enough that the suicide bomber could not gain access to them before the bomb exploded.                                                                 

  He said, “Five persons have been confirmed dead, while six others sustained injury as a result of the bomb blast.”

Also confirming the incident in a news release, the spokesman for the JTF, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said, “At about 1410 hours, a suicide bomber strapped with explosives detonated bombs very close to the Shehu of Borno and the Deputy Governor of Borno State and their entourage immediately after the Juma’at congregational prayer.”