Residents of Potiskum, Yobe state in Nigeria’s north-east region are picking up the pieces, a day after a young female suicide bomber strapped with explosives killed five people and wounded dozens of others at a security checkpoint outside the global system communication (GSM) market in the town.
Eyewitness accounts said that the girl refused to be checked at the gate to the market and an argument ensued, during which she let off the bomb, killing herself and five others, while many many other people were injured.
Witnesses described the bomber as a “small girl”, estimating that she could not have been more than eight years old.
On 11 January 2015, four people were killed and over 40 were injured at Kasuwar Jagwal GSM market after an attack by two female suicide bombers, one of whom appeared to be about 15 years old.
A bombing involving a parked car also occurred that day, killing two people and injuring one, at the divisional police station.
The use of female suicide bombers, sometimes young girls, has been a common tactic of Boko Haram since last year, as have revenge attacks on civilians when the group is under pressure.
Also, the Nigerian military has said it is making progress in the fight against the insurgent group as Nigerian forces backed by air strikes seized the northeastern border town of Baga from Boko Haram on Saturday.
