3 female suicide bombers killed by Nigerian troops

Nigerian troops confronting Boko Haram terrorists in restive northeast state of Borno have killed three female suicide bombers, when they tried to ram into troops along Dutse, in Gwoza area of the state, a military officer said Wednesday.

The three female suicide bombers were intercepted following intelligent report, Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, told reporters in northern city of in Maiduguri.

"We intercepted the bombers, but the three of them resisted and tried to ram into our troops and off course we had no choice but to open fire at them," he added.

Nigeria troops and its Cameroonian counterparts forces have been making remarkable progress and recoveries in Ngwoshe axis and Gwoza hills, the military chief said.

"We discovered stockpile of arms and ammunition," he added.

"We also arrested one of the most wanted Boko Haram terrorist number 164 suspects on our list," he said.

In a related development, Irabor confirmed the arrest of the Chairman of Mafa Local Government in Borno, Shettima Lawan, for alleged link with the Boko Haram terrorists.

"All I can say is that the Chairman is a big supporter of Boko Haram," he added.

"We heard that he harbored Boko Haram members along with his father. That he kept the Boko Haram members because the father begged him to do so," the military chief said.

According to Irabor, the Chairman was in the habit of accommodating people that had fled from the bush.

"At some point he was valuable to us being with the Civilian JTF to fight Boko Haram. But that does not mean we cannot investigate him for a crime especially one like this," he said.

"We have also arrested the Vice Chairman of Kaga Local Government and he is undergoing interrogation," Irabor said. Endit