Barely 24 hours after gunmen suspected to Boko Haram killed 18 people
at a local market in Damboa, Borno South, the Islamist sect members
laid siege on the state capital, Maiduguri, yesterday, murdering 12
more.. Five of the victims were beheaded even as scores may have been
injured in the bomb explosion and gun battle between security forces and
the sect in the metropolis yesterday.
In what appeared like a day of rage, the gunmen went on a killing
spree through coordinated attacks in different parts of the Maiduguri
metropolis from Tuesday evening. Four people were reportedly shot dead
at London Ciki, a volatile ward in the metropolis while another five,
including a director in the state Ministry of Animal and Fisheries, one
Zakka, a father and his son, were slaughtered in Jiddari-Polo area on
Tuesday night.
Military authorities said “two gunmen lost their lives and a soldier
was wounded.” Sources said the gunmen had sneaked into some houses in
Jiddari-Polo at about 10.30pm on Tuesday and beheaded the father and
son, and two others, barely 10 hours after four persons were shot dead
at London Ciki. “Three people were killed in London Ciki at about 8.30pm
yesterday (Tuesday) while another man was shot today (Wednesday) at
about 8.30am in the same area,” a security source said.
In yet another attack on Tuesday, some gunmen laid siege and shot a
resident along Baga Road, few metres away from Ibrahim Taiwo Police Area
Command Office and Divisional Police Station and reportedly fled.
Sources said the attack drew the attention of the Joint Task Force (JTF)
troops who rushed to the area to smoke out the assailants.
The soldiers shelled a suspected house in the neighbourhood while
pursuing the suspects. It was feared that some people, including the
owners of the house might have been injured or killed. Residents around
the area alleged that three Volkswagen Golf cars and three tricycles
were in ruins around the area of the incident. They were burnt by the
security troops. Another attack was also carried out at Gomari Ward
where some classrooms and offices of a public school, Gomari II Primary
School on Tuesday night.
There was also a bomb explosion yesterday afternoon at Kalari Ward in
the state capital while heavy shooting was witnessed in most parts of
the city. It was feared that scores might have been wounded but JTF
spokesman, Lt- Col Sagir Musa, maintained, “no life was lost and nobody
was injured.” His statement reads: “Information available to the Joint
Task Force operation Restore Order revealed that there was an IED
explosion at about 12.30 pm today, Wednesday, 23 January, 2013 in
Shehuri Ward, Maiduguri metropolis.
The JTF rushed to the scene, cordoned it off, searched the area and
arrested 10 suspects. Operation is ongoing; the suspects are in JTF
custody undergoing interrogation. No life was lost and nobody was
injured. Situation has since been normalized as people are going about
their normal businesses”. Reacting to the killing at Jiddari-Polo, Col
Musa said three and not five persons were killed even as he would not
want to comment on whether or not the victims were beheaded.
“I don’t know about that,” he replied when our reporter inquired.
“Information available to JTF indicated that some suspected gunmen
killed three people at about 3.am today (Wednesday), 23rd January, 2013
in Jiddari-Polo, Maiduguri metropolis. The JTF was alerted; it cordoned
off the area, arrested three suspects and recovered one assault rifle
with 10 rounds of ammunition. Two gunmen lost their lives and a soldier
was wounded during an exchange of fire. The suspects are in JTF custody
and effort is on to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang,” the
spokesman said.
SUN
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