Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim
The
Nigerian Army on Tuesday said it had averted a pre-Sallah tragedy in
Borno State by uncovering a plot by insurgents to wreak havoc in three
communities.
It also confirmed the killing 40 of
the insurgents and destruction of a vehicle wired with Improvised
Explosive Devices which was meant to be exploded in Bama on Sunday
night.
The Spokesman of the 7th Division of
the Nigerian Army, Capt. Aliyu Danja, who disclosed this in a statement
on Tuesday, said some of the insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds.
Danja said that the terror suspects
had planned to launch coordinated attacks in Bama, Gwoza and Pulka
towns in Borno State at the same time on Sunday.
He added, “Troops of 7th Division
Nigerian Army have foiled yet another attack by Boko Haram terrorists
aimed at inflicting havoc on Borno State prior to Sallah festivities.
“The terrorists who are of unknown
strength attempted coordinated simultaneous attacks on Bama, Gwoza and
Pulka on the night of Sunday, October 13, 2013.
“Soldiers of 7 Division in anticipation,
however, successfully repelled all the attacks, killing 40 terrorists
in the three locations while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“Soldiers also destroyed a pickup vehicle loaded with IEDs meant for destruction of Bama during the encounter.”
The statement added that a combined
operation by the Nigerian Air Force and ground troops led to the
neutralisation of a plot by Boko Haram elements and their weapons at
Kilani area of the state.
It stated that the Eid-el Kabir prayers
were held amid tight security provided by the men of the Division
‘7’ of the Nigerian Army under the leadership of the Commanding Officer,
Maj. Gen Obadiah Ethan.
The 2011 Sallah celebrations were marred
by multiple bombings planned and executed by the Boko Haram insurgents
in Maiduguri, Borno State on Friday, November 4, 2011.
Several explosives planted in the city
were programmed to go off simultaneously in the troubled city including
the offices of the Joint Task Force.
The Agence France Presse reported then
that two suicide bombers driving a black SUV laden with IEDs detonated
the devices in front of the JTF headquarters in Maiduguri when they
failed to gain entrance into the premises. The military said two
suicide bombers died.
The attacks took place two days before the annual Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
On October 27, 2012, insurgents
launched an attacks a few hours to Sallah in Maiduguri, killing three
youths in the presence of their parents at at Zajiri Ward in Maiduguri
The gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members also killed 15 people in Baga market that same year.
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