Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, on Friday, said the death toll during Thursday’s attack on Maiduguri by suspected Boko Haram members had risen to six with 27 injured.
Aliyu, who provided the update while addressing journalists, said five more bodies were discovered between Thursday and Friday.
According to him, the victims included one female at Gwange II and five others who were hit by explosives in separate locations within the city.
The police commissioner said following the incidents, the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, had deployed a total of 7,000 personnel to secure the entire city for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in order to prevent a breach of peace.
He said the personnel, comprising the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and Special Protection Unit were deployed in 31 designated mosques for the period of the festivities.
Aliyu said, “Also deployed are personnel from the Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Special Anti-Robbery Squad men with armoured vehicles and sniffer dogs, Civilian Joint Task Force, hunters and the Rapid Response Squad to secure the outskirts of the city.”
The police commissioner added that the measure was to ensure a hitch-free Eid celebration and also enhance security in the state.
He urged the people to be on high alert and avoid large gatherings and report any suspicious activities around them to security agencies, while warning youths in the state against any act capable of disturbing the peace.