(File copy of a blast scene)
At least five people were killed and dozens wounded as a young girl with explosives strapped to her hit a security checkpoint in Potiskum ,Yobe State on Sunday ,Reuters has reported.
“(She) refused to be checked at the gate to the market and an argument ensued,” Ibrahim Maishago said in the report . “She let off the bomb, killing herself and five others, while many were injured.”
Bala Potiskum, who resides in the town reportedly said he saw dozens of wounded being rushed to hospital on the heels of the explosion.
The witnesses said she was just a “ small girl” that might not be more than 8 years old ,Reuters reported.
This report implies a new dimension to the use of female suicide bombers that has gained traction in the northern part of Nigeria ravaged Boko Haram.
Before today’s blast the female bombers used to carry out bombing had between reportedly from ten years old and above.Even then, experts had wondered what could be the motivation of the girls.How are they recruited?What sort of indoctrination are they fed with?
Now an eight –year old? She must apparently have acted on somebody’s instruction: who sent her?.Is there any new ring for recruiting innocent kids?Who is behind that? These are some of the questions that security experts need to address.
The Potiskum explosion came a day after Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said it had recaptured Baga in neighbouring Borno state from Boko Haram.Several terrorsist were killed and many of them drowned in Lake Chad in face of sustained land and air bombardments by Nigerian troops.
