Boko Haram Launches Massive Attack On Maiduguri…Landmines Kill 5, Injure 4 Others

Boko Haram insurgents launched a massive attack on Maiduguri, Borno state capital on Saturday night just as at least five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed and four others critically injuried when a Toyota Hilux patrol vehicle rammed into landmines/ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to have been planted by members of the terror group.

The militants are said to have entere‎d through Wanori village and started shooting sporadically at about 7:13pm local time. They advanced to Dalori opposite the University of Maiduguri, setting homes ablaze, it was learnt.

A witness who resides near the university said heavy gunfire was still ongoing and that people around the area had fled to other relatively safe locations in the town. It was learnt that the military were engaging the terrorists in a gun battle which was still on going at the time of filing this report.

Spokesman of the military’s Operation Lafiya Zama Dole Col. Mustapha Anka confirmed the attack, adding that the military was “on top of the sit‎uation”. Boko ‎Haram has attacked the Borno state capital many times in the past.

In a related incident, the killing of the civilian JTF took place in Buma village on Saturday at about 8:30am. Buma village is 15 kilometres drive from troubled Ngamdu District of Kaga Local Government Area of the state.

Kaga is the headquarters of Beneshiekh which is southwest and about 85 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital. It was gathered from a reliable sources that the occupants of the ill fated vehicle were on patrol before stepping on the planted IEDs which exploded leaving five members of the Civilian JTF including another volunteer dead.

The source further revealed that, already, the dead victims have been buried according to Islamic rite, while two of those who sustained severe injuries have been rushed to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment.