By Bode Olushegun
Power outage in Maiduguri, the capital of troubled Borno State may persist as explosion on Saturday rocked a site of repairs of damaged electrical infrastructure..
Maiduguri has been witnessing power outage for about a month now since suspected Boko Haram members damaged power lines along Maiduguri-Damaturu road.
Technicians were subsequently deployed in the site and security was largely provided for them by a combined team of soldiers and men of the Borno State Rapid Response Team.
Every day before the commencement of repairs by the technicians, soldiers would scan the entire area for any explosive that might have been planted by Boko Haram.
But on Saturday just about 10 am when the technicians were getting ready to commence the day’s work, there was mighty explosion which scattered a Hilux Toyota van and got three technicians seriously injured.
According to a witness, who spoke to our correspondent, two of the three injured had their limbs severed.
The witness, said: “Just as we were about to begin the normal daily duty, one of the vehicles stepped on a landmine and was scattered, three people at the back of the Hilux vehicle were seriously injured.”
He said: “In fact we can see the severe limbs of two of the injured, as the three were assisted to the hospital.”
The witness said the incident occurred about 10pm when one of the vehicles in a hurry parked at a spot which had not be scanned by the military.
He disclosed that the rule was that everyday before commencement of work the large expanse of land would be scanned by soldiers for planted improvised expensive device (IED).
He added that “it is when none is seen that a go ahead to park vehicles and commence work would be given.”
He lamented that it seemed people were getting used to the fact that there was no danger and one of the vehicles without getting the normal all-clear instruction went to park where the soldiers had yet to scan.
He said he touched on a landmine and an explosion which got many scared happened.
Confirming the incident, the Borno RRS Commander, Abioye Babalola said: “My men have evacuated the injured to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital to be treated.”
He said it was quite unfortunate that this had to happen as there were always security arrangement in place and instructions that everyone on site was instructed to adhere to.
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