A suicide bomber has killed 14 people and injured 24 others in an attack believed to be targeted at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Dikwa, Borno State.

The state Emergency Management Agency says it has evacuated 14 corpses and 24 injured people from the scene of the attack, which occurred late on Friday.

It was gathered that the suicide bomber infiltrated a housing estate in Dikwa accommodating returning IDPs and detonated explosives.

According to the Head of the Rapid Response team of the Agency, Bello Dambatta, a female suicide bomber sneaked into a building close to the estate around 8:30 pm and detonated the explosives strapped to her.

“We have so far evacuated 38 victims comprising, 14 deaths and 24 injured persons presently receiving treatment at the State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri,” Dambatta said.

There are no camps in Dikwa town as almost all returnees are in homes.

The Media Coordinator of the Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Clement Nwachukwu confirmed the attack when contacted by Channels Television via the phone.

Nwachukwu says troops have since been mobilised to the area.

“We are doing all we can to provide adequate security through our continuing operations but we urge the public to be more security conscious and know who their neighbours are,” Nwachukwu cautioned.

The attack occurred three days after Boko Haram ambushed oil workers and staff of the University of Maiduguri, abducting some of them and killing several others.

About 30 civilians and more than 10 soldiers were reportedly killed in the ambush.

On Friday, a video of three people, who identified themselves as employees of the university and said they were part of those abducted, was released by Boko Haram.

In the video, the men appealed to the Federal Government to meet the demands of Boko Haram (the Abu Musab al-Barnawi faction) and secure their freedom.

They also called on the government to stop the "excessive use of force" against the terrorists as it is not the answer. (Channels TV)

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