A would-be suicide bomber who refused to detonate her explosives in northeast Nigeria was identified as she tried to flee because of her distinctive hairstyle, a military officer said on Friday.
The officer, who was at the camp for displaced people in Dikwa, Borno state, when two other women blew themselves up on Tuesday, killing 58, said the third was spotted as she tried to leave.
"The Kanuri women are known for plaiting their hair but we realised over time from the bodies of female suicide bombers that they all had ponytails," he said.
"Based on that we came to the conclusion, after a thorough investigation and the testimonies from female bombers arrested alive, that before going on suicide bombing they are made to wear a ponytail because in Kanuri traditions when a woman dies before she is buried her hair is loosened and made in to a ponytail.