The target was thought to be the Maimalari army
barracks -- the main military base in Maiduguri, which has been hit
repeatedly in recent months by Boko Haram Islamists.
"Soldiers
at Maimalari army barracks this morning (Sunday) foiled a suicide
attack by a female bomber," said Babakura Kolo, from the civilian
volunteer force assisting troops against the rebels.
The woman
approached the barracks around 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and headed towards the
gates, he said. Military guards at the gates shouted at her to stop for
security checks but she ignored them and continued walking towards the
gates, he added.
"She continued walking with her handbag slung on her shoulder, despite repeated shouts from the soldiers asking her stop.
"One of the soldiers opened fire on the woman and the handbag exploded, blowing the woman to pieces."
There were no other
casualties in the explosion, which one military officer in the city
described as an "attempted suicide attack by Boko Haram terrorists".
Boko
Haram has intensified its use of multiple suicide bombers to inflict
maximum casualties, with secondary explosions detonated as people rush
to help victims of the initial blast.
At
least 34 people were killed in a wave of attacks on Thursday night and
Friday morning on the outskirts of Maiduguri, while last month 117 died
in explosions in the Ajilari Cross area of the Borno state capital.
Of the six suicide attacks in Nigeria this month, four have been in Maiduguri, killing at least 48 and injuring 99.
The
military source, who requested anonymity as he is not authorized to
talk to the media, said the use of human bombs was a sign of the group's
desperation and frustration at the fight-back by troops.
"They
are looking for every opportunity to hit back, which is why they have
resorted to soft-target attacks on mosques and markets and such attacks
on a military base is intended to show the terrorists are still strong,"
the officer added.
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