university, covering 27 kilometres. The area was said to be used by the terrorists to access the school. One of the casualties of the attacks was Professor Aliyu Mani of Vetenary Medicine Department, who died while performing his early morning prayer in one of the mosques that was attacked by suicide bombers. The governor had, two weeks ago, mobilised caterpillars to start the digging as a way of responding to previous attacks. ..other versions On the Sunday’s attacks, however, some residents of Zannari gave a different version of the incident. Mallam Lawan Modu claimed the area was invaded by suspected suicide bombers, who detonated their explosives in four different locations in the community. His words: “We heard explosions in four different locations in Zannari, Sunday; the first explosion happened around 10:30p.m. The other explosions took place within short intervals.” He claimed about 10 persons were killed in the attacks, saying “so many people were affected. In fact, we evacuated about 10 bodies in the morning. Several others were also injured.” Mr. Damian Chukwu, the state’s Commissioner of Police, confirmed the incidents, saying that 16 persons were killed. According to him, “all in all, 16 persons, including some suicide bombers, died in the multiple suicide attacks, while 13 others were injured. “Yesterday, at about 10:21 p.m., a male suicide bomber gained entry into the premises of UNIMAID and detonated explosives on his body, near the Rapid Response Service office building. “The bomber died, while three university security personnel on duty were injured. One of the injured security personnel, a female known as Becky Edubi, later died at the hospital. “At about 10:30p.m. same night, four female suicide bombers infiltrated Zannari community in Gwange general area. Two of the suicide bombers detonated explosives on their bodies in two different residential buildings, killing eight persons and injuring 11 others. The third suicide bomber detonated his explosives in another area killing himself alone. One arrested “The fourth female suicide bomber was arrested that same night, but she died as a result of injuries she had sustained. Today (yesterday) at about 4:08a.m., two suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives on their bodies within the premises of the university. “One detonated close to the Entrepreneurship Centre, killing herself alone with no other casualty, while the other detonated behind Works Department Complex, also killing herself alone.” Chukwu added that the police anti-explosion unit had been mobilised to the scenes, while the injured were evacuated to hospital for medical treatment. …Shettima holds security meeting at UNIMAID During his visit to UNIMAID, Shettima announced that he was releasing the N50 million not only to fund the digging, but also to support payment of allowances to special guards drawn from local vigilantes, who are to work with the military in policing the porous areas. Shettima said although the university is a Federal institution, it was also part of Borno Government’s responsibility to intervene in securing lives and preventing the desire of insurgents to force the closure of the school. Acting Vice Chancellor, Aliyu Shugaba, who conducted Shettima round the scenes, revealed that the university had requested for N2.8 billion to enable it fund the erection of a perimeter fence round the exposed portions of the school, which has a link to Sambisa Forest. The governor later went into the Vice Chancellor’s office and presided over a security meeting that was attended by the Garrison Commander of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukeu and those in charge of internal security at the university.
