15 civilians died in Maiduguri explosion --DHQ

The Defence Headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja confirmed the death of 15 civilians, including a member of the Youth Vigilante Group, in an explosion in Maiduguri on Monday .

The confirmation is contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade.

The statement indicated that: “A total of 15 civilians, including a member of the Youth Vigilante Group, died while 17 others were wounded in the explosion which occurred at Mulai, near Maiduguri on Monday.

“Eight vehicles were also destroyed in the incident. Six of the terrorists involved in the incident died, while one has been arrested.”

Military authorities had said on Monday that four suspected suicide bombers heading to the NNPC facility on the Maiduguri-Damboa Road died in their vehicles, laden with Improvised Explosive Devices.

The authorities explained that three of the four explosive-laden vehicles were demobilised by shots fired at them by soldiers at a checkpoint, shortly before the explosions which rocked the area.