10-yr-old girl strapped with explosives arrested

10-yr-old girl strapped with explosives arrested •Another female suicide bomber strikes in Kano •12 killed in Yobe mosque attack

A 10-year-old girl, strapped with explosives, was among the three suspected members of the Boko Haram arrested by Nigerian security forces in Katsina, on Tuesday.

The suspects, who were arrested about 10.00 p.m on Zaria Road, Tudun Wada area of Funtua metropolis, were Iliya Dahiru (male), Zainab Musa, 18 and the 10-year-old Hadiza Musa.

Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, made this known on Wednesday, while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

“The suspects were arrested in a Honda CRV. When they were directed to disembark for security checks, 10-year-old Hadiza was discovered to have been strapped with an explosive belt and immediately, Iliya and Zainab made attempt to escape with the car, but were later blocked by other concerned Nigerians and subsequently arrested,” Omeri said.

He, however, appealed to parents to monitor closely, activities of their children, to prevent them from any act of terrorism.

“It is on this note that we appeal to parents to consciously observe and watch their children’s activities, in order to prevent them from participating in unwholesome activities, particularly terrorism,” he said.

The coordinator also expressed appreciation at the level of consciousness of Nigerians on security issues and their contributions towards containing the acts of insurgents.

Also speaking, the Force Police Public Relation Officer, Frank Mba, said that the use of female suicide bombers was not new in the world, but new to Nigeria.

He said women raised fewer suspicion, especially where there is security layers, adding that the insurgents had taken advantage of this to recruit female bombers.

Mba, who said the Nigerian culture does not allow  male security operatives  to search women, revealed that the security agencies were developing counter-terrorism strategy, by  increasing the number of female security personnel in the stop-and-check areas.

Another female suicide bomber strikes in Kano

ANOTHER female bomber struck at the Kano State Polytechnic, Kano, on Wednesday, around 2.30 p.m., leaving three persons dead and 13 injured.

The latest incident brings to four, number of female suicide bombers that had blown themselves up in Kano lately.

The bomber detonated the bomb after she had entered the premises of the school and had mixed with graduates who had gone to the school to collect their call-up letter for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The bomber disguised and even put on hijab, leaving no reason to suspect her before a loud bang rented the air.

A source hinted that the incident caused pandemonium in the school, as other students hurriedly left the scene to avoid being caught up in the explosion.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Magaji Musa Majiya, confirmed the death of two persons and the bomber, saying that seven others sustained varying degrees of injury.

The state police commissioner, Mr. Adenrele Shinaba, advised the people to be careful, especially with females wearing hijab, adding that it was the new dimension to terrorism in the state.

FG confirms blast

Confirming the incident, the coordinator of National Information Centre (NIC), Mike Omeri, said the bomb was detonated by a female suicide bomber.

“Three persons were killed, just as 13 others sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital. Investigations currently ongoing,” Omeri said.

He assured that the government was putting in all efforts and resources to successfully counter insurgency by the Boko Haram sect.