No fewer than eight people died while 15 were severely injured on Wednesday when a car bomb, believed to be the handiwork of Boko Haram, hit a convoy in the outskirt of the north-eastern Borno State’s capital of Maiduguri.
The explosion went off at Muna garage, as the convoy, with a military escort was going to Gamboru Ngala.
A witness said he saw eight corpses at the scene of the explosion, but the police in Borno said only five people died.
“Please be informed that at about 0830 today (Wednesday), there was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion on board a Golf 1 motor vehicle with reg. No JERE 349 XA, body S/No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour,” Borno police spokesman Victor Isuku, said.
“The car was carrying five people – four females and a male driver.
“The explosion occurred when the taxi was attempting to join the convoy of other vehicles heading to Gamboru town.
“All the four female passengers and the male driver died in the explosion,” Isuku said.
He said the bomber was suspected to have been picked by the driver on the road.
“The suicide bomber who is reasonably believed to be one of the female casualties was picked along the road,” Isuku explained.
He said the explosion did not affect the other vehicles on the queues as everybody ran for their lives after the explosion.
