Nigerian soldiers shot dead a suspected suicide bomber outside a military base in the northeast today, detonating explosives concealed in her handbag, a civilian vigilante and a military source stated.
The target was thought to be the Maimalari army barracks — the main military base in Maiduguri, which has been hit repeatedly in recent months by Boko Haram Islamists.
“Soldiers at Maimalari army barracks this morning foiled a suicide attack by a female bomber,” stated Babakura Kolo, from the civilian volunteer force assisting troops against the rebels.
He added: "The woman approached the barracks around 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and headed towards the gates, he stated. Military guards at the gates shouted at her to stop for security checks but she ignored them and continued walking towards the gates.
“She continued walking with her handbag slung on her shoulder, despite repeated shouts from the soldiers asking her stop.
“One of the soldiers opened fire on the woman and the handbag exploded, blowing the woman to pieces.”
There were no other casualties in the explosion, which one military officer in the city described as an “attempted suicide attack by Boko Haram terrorists”.