Vigilant troops of the Nigerian Army Thursday, in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, neutralised three female suicide bombers who attempted to attack a military location.

The Army, in a statement issued by its Acting Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the suicide bombers who came through Pulka axis were sighted by members of vigilante from a distance and alerted the troops about the impending catastrophe. “The very observant vigilante,” Usman said, “also noted that the women looked suspicious; walking awkwardly with bulging Hijab and distinct from other female farmers.

“When the suicide bombers noticed that they were being observed, they hurriedly ran towards troops aiming to detonate it on them. The troops neutralised two of the female suicide bombers, while the other ran back into the bush but was pursued. Unfortunately, a soldier sustained injuries due to the impact of the explosion. The wounded soldier is currently receiving treatment at a military medical centre and he is in stable condition.”

Col. Usman also disclosed that, on Wednesday, troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army stationed in Anchau, Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State, arrested two kidnappers in the process of collecting ransom from a kidnap victim’s family in the area.

He said the arrest followed a tip off by well meaning Nigerians that the kidnappers had arrived Dutsen Wai for ransom collection from their hapless victim’s family.

“On receipt of information, the troops swung into action in an unmarked car and trailed them to the rendezvous for the collection. The kidnappers that were believed to be operating along Kaduna-Abuja road, however, fled towards Zaria in a Honda car with registration number AJ 183 ABJ, when they realised that they were being trailed.

“Consequently, the pursuing troops alerted the Police stationed at Soba. In the process of fleeing, the kidnappers overran the police checkpoints at Soba and Maigana and proceeded to Zaria where they were finally apprehended.

“The troops recovered a Honda Accord car, one mobile telephone handset, four MTN, one Airtel Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) cards, one micro SD card, a National Identity card, an INEC voters registration card, a Miyetti Allah cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria Identity Card, United Bank for Africa and Keystone Bank Debit Cards, cash sum of N12,710 and a notebook containing several names, addresses and telephone numbers of kidnap victims families and relations. The suspects are currently being investigated,” the Army said.

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