Boko Haram gave me N200 to detonate explosive, says suicide bomber

An 18-year-old suicide bomber, Amina, who was intercepted by Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel yesterday in Maiduguri, said Boko Haram gave her N200 for the mission.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that she was abducted two years ago by the terror group's members in Madagali, Adamawa and taken to Sambisa Forest.

"They gave us N200 each to buy food for ourselves. It took us three days to come to Maiduguri on a motorcycle. We were directed by the sect members to detonate our explosives where there is any form of gathering.

"They said if we press the button, the bomb would explode and we will automatically go to Heaven. "I was scared, so, I told them that I could not detonate any explosive. So, they said if Zainab detonated her own, it would serve the purpose.
"On our way to Maiduguri, we encountered the military and they were shooting. I was very scared and the people that brought us ran away. "I am from Imam Shekau's faction of Boko Haram even though I have never seen Shekau. But I hear about him in Gobarawa," Amina said.

She said that her father, mother and younger brother, Umar, were all killed when they tried to escape from the enclave where they were held hostage. "We came from Gobarawa along Damboa, Madagali and Algarno axis, a community where we were held hostage and married off by the sect members.

"I am also married to a Boko Haram commander known as "Amir". Meanwhile, the NSCDC Commandant in Borno, Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the command had handed over the suspect to the Garrison Commander, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, "for proper investigation."

The Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maiduguri, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, confirmed that the suspect was in custody of the Army, and that she would undergo investigation.

"We are going to profile her as she would give us the lead to get to other insurgents," Irabor said. NAN said that personnel of the NSCDC had earlier intercepted two female suicide bombers, who tried to ram into motorists at the NNPC mega station on Damboa Road, Maiduguri.

The commandant of the corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the incident occurred at about 6.45 a.m. "Our personnel at the NNPC station intercepted two female suicide bombers who were targeting motorists on the long queue at the NNPC mega petrol station at about 6.45 a.m.

"One of the bombers got scared and threw away her bomb and was instantly arrested, while the other one ran after people with her explosive," Ibrahim said.