Nigerian soldiers on Boko Haram frontline

But for military intelligence and luck, Boko Haram nearly had Maiduguri pencilled down for  a massive massacre through suicide bombing.

The Nigerian Army  reviewing the bloody events of the last 48 hours said Boko Haram in a well planned  move, despatched 14 suicide bombers to cause mayhem and panic in the city, that has borne the major brunt of the insurgency crisis since 2009.

The evil plan however was aborted, to some extent.

Three of the 14 female suicide bombers who attempted to invade Maiduguri on Sunday  blew themselves off killing  25 people  and wounding 85 others . The bombers were aged between 12 and 18.

Maj.-Gen. Yushau Abubakar, theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure at a media briefing in Maiduguri.

Abubakar, who was represented by Maj.-General Lamidi Adeosun, the GOC, 7 Division, said that  the  bombers were successfully  intercepted by men of the Nigerian Army on patrol.

He said that the terrorists intended to carry out massive and coordinated suicide missions through Asmari, Damboa checkpoint, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, Jumari villages on the outskirt of Maiduguri.

Abubakar said: “Seven other suicide bombers were gunned down by our troops, three escaped and one was arrested.

“I believe this development has averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri.

“One of the girls went to a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque and blew herself off killing one person while 13 others sustained injuries,” he said.

Abubakar said that the insurgents recently ambushed Nigerian troops in Mairaria village on the Maiduguri-Monguno and Firgi road.

He said that 14 insurgents and four soldiers died in the ensuing gun battle.

He said that the capacity of the insurgents to carry out coordinated attacks had been degraded, adding that that was the reason why they were now attacking soft targets and laying ambush on soldiers.

Abubakar appealed to the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.