Boko Haram Kills Eight During Morning Prayers in Borno

Despite the repeated claims by the Nigerian Government and Military Hierarchy that Boko Haram has been decimated, the terrorist organisation continues to carry attacks with deadly precision.

In what looks like a renewed campaign of aggression against the Nigeria state, Eight people have been killed after a suicide bomber believed to be a member of the Boko Haram group, attacked a mosque in Borno State.

A member of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Ibrahim Liman, reported that the insurgent attacked the mosque located in the Mainari area of Konduga, in the early hours of Monday, where he detonated his explosives during morning prayers.

According to Ibrahim, “The male bomber walked into the mosque at about 5:15 am while prayers were on and exploded, killing eight worshippers and injuring five others.

“Seven of the victims died in the mosque while another died on the way to (the Borno State capital) Maiduguri,” he added.

Liman also noted that in the past Boko Haram suicide bombers have been young underage girls but this particular attack was different because the attacker was in his early 20’s.

Suicide bombings against “soft” civilian targets such as mosques, markets and bus stations are the hallmark of the terrorist group led by Abubakar Shekau.

Another eyewitness, Umar Goni, who lives in Konduga, told reporters that he was on his way to the mosque when the blast occurred and he helped to rescue victims with members of the civilian volunteer force.

“We pulled out seven dead bodies and six injured worshippers. One of the six injured died on the way to hospital. The bomber was disguised as a worshipper, there was no way anybody could have known his mission.”

Boko Haram activities have spiked of late with several ambushes and attacks against civilian and military targets recorded in the last two weeks at least.

Read: BOKO HARAM REGROUPING IN BORNO, ARMY CONFIRMS ATTACK ON PERSONNEL

Last week, six traders were killed when a convoy of Lorries under military escort was ambushed in Borno State near the border with Cameroon. Soldiers and civilians have also been targeted in separate attacks in neighbouring Chad and Niger.

The Nigerian Army has either underplayed these renewed Boko Haram attacks or blatantly denied they ever happened even in the face of overwhelming and growing evidence.

Independent news sources have been painting a dire situation in the Nigerian armed forces where soldiers are being owed allowances and there is a general loss of motivation and morale among the rank and file of fighting men in the North-east.