MAIDUGURI—THERE was fierce fighting,
yesterday, between the Nigerian troops and
Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, the
Borno State capital. About 80 insurgents were
killed, while several others escaped with bullet
wounds.
The latest attack came barely a week after the
insurgents tried to take over the state capital
from the Damaturu-Jimtilo axis but were
repelled by soldiers who deployed massive
artillery and fighter jets to dislodge them.
SUICIDE ATTACK—Aid workers evacuate
injured persons in the suicide blast in
Potiskum, Yobe State, yesterday. A witness
said the bomber emerged from a bus that
pulled up in front of the home of Sabo Garbu
who is running for a seat in the House of
Representatives. Photos: AFP.
The insurgents were stopped from taking over
the city by youths otherwise known as the
Civilian JTF, and other residents who risked
their lives by coming out in large numbers to
assist troops in repelling the invaders.
Meantime, a suicide bomber blew himself up
outside the house of a legislator in Potiskum,
Yobe State, yesterday, killing 10 people,
security sources said.
The bomber walked up to the house of a
member of the House of Representatives and
PDP candidate for the same position in the
forthcoming elections, Sabo Garbu, before
detonating the explosives. A bus stopped
outside Garbu’s home and dropped off the
attacker before speeding off, the sources
further said.
Also,suspected suicide bombers who
disguised as women were arrested in Yola,
Adamawa State, last night. The incident
happened barely few hours ahead of the
presidential campaign visit to Yola by the APC
flag bearer Major General Muhammadu Buhari
(rtd) scheduled for today.
The suspects were nabbed by the military at
the ever busy Mubi roundabout in the state
capital.
This came as three soldiers and 123 Boko
Haram terrorists were killed when the Islamist
group attacked a Chadian army contingent in
northern Cameroon, the Chadian military said.
Massive insugent’s casualties:
The heavily-armed gunmen attacked the
southern edge of Maiduguri at about 3 am,
yesterday, setting off explosives as they tried
to enter the city, several residents said.
They were, however, repelled by troops
backed by vigilantes but they regrouped and
tried to take the city from the Eastern end,
where they again met stiff resistance.
As the gun battles raged, “the whole city (was)
in fear,” said resident Adam Krenuwa.
Defence Spokesman, Chris Olukolade said the
assault on the town, where the extremist
group was founded more than a decade ago,
was “contained” and that “the terrorists
incurred massive casualties.
“The situation is calm as mop up operation in
the affected area is ongoing,” agency reports
quoted him as writing in a text message.
Despite waves of attacks in the city in recent
months, Maiduguri has become a place of
refuge for people forced to flee other areas in
Borno that have been taken over by the
terrorists.
The affected areas
The areas affected during yesterday’s attack
were Molai village which is 10 kilometres south
of Maiduguri; Ngom village and Mafa Local
Government Area, about 30 kilometres north
east of the city along the College of Agriculture
and the Chad Basin Development Authority
road in the metropolis.
The Molai attack started at about 7am when
some insurgents armed with AK47 rifles,
Rocket Propelled Launchers and Anti-Aircraft
machine guns in a convoy of 15 Hilux vehicles
and many motorcycles attempted to enter the
city from Dalwa-Molai axis, a suburb of
Maiduguri. Troops stationed along the
Maiduguri-Damboa Road engaged them in
heavy gun duel, and with quick reenforcement
of troops and civilian JTF, most of the
terrorists were killed while others escaped with
gunshot wounds.
Most churches were hurriedly closed down
during morning service while others could not
even open as a result of the sounds of
explosions and gunshots. A female member of
the Deeper Life Church in Molai (names
withheld) was hit by a stray bullet while trying
to escape from the scene of the attack.
The Information Officer of National Emergency
Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Abdulkadir
Ibrahim confirmed the multiple attacks on the
city which has so far displaced many people
from their homes, but insisted that he was yet
to get details on number of casualties,
promising to get back before press time.
Sources said during the first attack on Dalwa-
Molai axis which is not far from the Giwa
Military Barracks, more than 60 insurgents
were killed. The terrorists were, however,
quick in picking the dead bodies of their fallen
members. Only 46 bodies of the terrorists
were recovered. Troops and thousands of
civilian JTF members pursued the fleeing and
injured terrorists who ran back towards the
Sambisa forest.
According to the sources, when the four-hour
battle around Molai axis was about to subside,
another group of insurgents attacked troops
along the Mafa-Ngom-Maiduguri Road, but
military and civilian JTF members succeeded
in repelling the second attack, killing more
than 30 of the insurgents.
The second attack around Mafa-Ngom area
started at about 11am and lasted for two
hours before airforce fighter jets with
assistance from ground troops repelled the
insurgents.
“Most residents of Molai, NNPC depot and
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Quarters along
the troubled Maiduguri-Damboa Road, which
was closed down for motorists since July last
year, had to flee into the city for safety”, said
Molai resident, Mallam Jubrila Usman.
PDP, Gov Shettima commend troops, Civilian JTF:
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno
State have praised the gallantry of officers and
men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for repelling
insurgents in Borno and other troubled states
in the North.
PDP reacts
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh
in a statement, yesterday, said “the members
of the armed forces have shown exceptional
patriotism while risking their lives to protect
those of other citizens and intensifying efforts
to ensure that the nation is rid of terrorist
activities.”
Metuh said the party recognized the sacrifices
being made by the military adding that “what
is needed at this point is for all Nigerians to
close ranks and support them with words of
encouragement, prayers and helpful
information where necessary.
“This is no longer the time to dwell on politics
or engage in unnecessary blame-games. We
cannot continue to seek political capital while
terrorists slaughter and maim our people. To
win this battle therefore, all citizens must
come together, stand with our government and
the military and present a common front
against terrorism irrespective of our religious,
political and ethnic differences.”
The PDP condoled with the families of the
victims of the attacks, comforted the displaced
and the wounded and prayed God to restore
enduring peace in the country.
Shettima lauds youths
Also, Governor Shettima of Borno State
commended youths in the state who
volunteered and came out in very large
numbers to defend Maiduguri from being
taken over by insurgents.
The insurgents laid siege to Dalwa from
Damboa axis as well as the Mafa entry point
with the determination to seize Maiduguri and
its massive population of residents and
internally displaced persons, taking refuge in
the state capital.
Shettima spoke, yesterday, after the
insurgents had been repelled by members of
the armed forces, and the Civilian JTF who
mobilized to the two battle fronts in defence of
their fatherland.
Isa Gusau, media aide to Shettima, quoted the
governor as saying: “I received with gratitude,
information on how youths from different parts
of Borno State, comprising those under the
Borno Youths Empowerment Scheme
otherwise called “Civilian JTF,” and other
residents of Maiduguri.
“They came out of their homes, abandoned
their families and with very uncommon
courage, sacrificed their lives and moved to
front lines to support our gallant armed forces.
“This was a patriotic battle to defend the soul
of Borno State and its people from being
seized by determined insurgents who in the
early hours of Sunday, February 1, 2015,
(yesterday) laid siege to two entry points into
Maiduguri: Dalwa community from Damboa
axis and from the Mafa-Dikwa axis.
“These terrorists had a murderous intention of
killing a massive population of residents and
internally displaced persons, taking refuge in
the state capital and destroying homes and
businesses in what would have become an
unimaginable calamity. ‘’I have never been as
proud of our youths in Borno State as much
as I am today. The youths have since 2013
risen in firm defence of the good people of
Borno State, and today, they have once again
proved to all of us, that they have by playing
complementary roles, taken our collective
destiny in their hands and we are full of
gratitude to them.”
Vanguard.
