Chadian police at
the weekend warned that anyone found wearing the Muslim full-face veil would be
arrested, after a Boko Haram suicide bombing in the capital left 15 dead, AFP
reported monday.
Saturday’s attack
in a bustling N’Djamena market by a man disguised as a woman in a full-face
veil also injured 80 and spread panic across the city.
“This attack just
confirms that a ban” on the full-face veil was justified, national police
spokesman Paul Manga said, adding that “it now must be respected more than ever
by the entire population”.
“Anyone who does
not obey the law will be automatically arrested and brought to justice,” he
warned.
The bomber
detonated his explosives belt when he was stopped for security checks at the
entrance to the city’s main market.
Muslim-majority
Chad banned the full-face veil, ramped up security measures, and bombed
militant positions in Nigeria last month after the first ever Boko Haram attack
in its capital.
Security was
tightened across the dry and dusty capital on Sunday with police and soldiers
deployed in all areas, including intersections, markets and mosques.
Nine of the dead
were women traders, and fear still permeated the market on Sunday.
“What was
happening elsewhere and what we heard about from media reports is now happening
here,” said Zenaba, a woman trader in her forties.
“I’m really
scared for me and my children,” she said.
Boko Haram
claimed responsibility on Twitter for the suicide bombing, signing off as
“Islamic State, West Africa province” — the militants’ self-styled moniker
since pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group in March.
Boko Haram’s
deadly insurgency has killed at least 15,000 people since 2009 and left more
than 1.5 million homeless.
A four-nation
coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun has pushed out the militants
from captured towns and villages in an operation that began in February.
