Suicide bombers destroy 3 fuel tankers in NE Nigeria

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - Three suicide bombers have been killed and three fuel tankers set ablaze near a fuel depot in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri, officials said.

The suicide bombers, apparently targeting a fuel depot, blew themselves up near several tankers early Friday morning, spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the northeast, Abdulkadir Ibrahim said in a statement.

"Three suspected suicide bombers died along Damboa Road in Maiduguri as a result of an explosion which occurred in the early hours of [Friday].

"Three petrol tankers were also burnt as a result of the incident. The fire has been brought under control [...]," he said.

Nobody has claimed responsibility but the attack bore the trademark of Boko Haram, the militant sect that has been carrying out violent acts for six years in the country's northeast.

The northeastern city of Maiduguri has suffered from series of suicide bomb attacks recently despite the military increasing its presence in the area.

Commander of the counterinsurgency military operation, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor said Wednesday that the recent bomb attacks were carried out by Boko Haram militants who had been dislodged by army forces from their stronghold.