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* Military jets deployed *Bombs detonated at UNIMAD, student killed *24-hour curfew imposed on city
Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was a theatre of war on Friday following a bloody clash between the military and Boko Haram members at Jidari-Polo, near the Army Giwa Barracks when the sect attempted to bomb the military base.
However, the Boko Haram members met their waterloo as they were over-powered by the soldiers.
During gun dwell, it was gathered that no fewer than 70 Boko Haram members were killed while the military also had some causalities.
Jidari-Polo where the incident erupted is now a no-go-area as residents have fled the community.
Many houses, including a filling station close to the area and vehicles were destroyed during the onslaught.
Business activities in the town were paralysed. All the shops at Monday Market, the biggest trading centre in the state, were hurriedly locked up; including the banks. Commercial vehicles also deserted the roads except for military vans and ammoured cars that were seen patrolling the streets.
Residents of Maiduguri were apprehensive of possible reprisal later in the night by the Boko Haram because many of the sect members fled during the fight.
As at Friday evening, military fighter jets were hovering over the city in search of the insurgents. This forced many of the residents to stay indoor.
Some of the Boko Haram members who ran into the town were eventually caught by the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), that conducted stop-and-search on both vehicles and Keke NAPEP (commercial tricyclists) plying the streets, and were killed instantly.
Also, Saturday Independent, gathered that the University of Maiduguri (UNMAID) was a ghost of itself on Friday as two bombs were donated within the campus.
Some of the students, who reside in the campus said it was like a war scenario as one of the bombs went off at the ETS Lecture Hall, destroying parts of it. Another, it was learnt, went off at the security post of the campus, causing pandemonium.
It was also gathered that a student, whose full identity was yet to be revealed as at press time, was killed by a stray bullet that hit her inside her hostel.
“We started hearing gun shots from about 6 am. After a short time, we heard bomb blasts at the security post, and ETS Lecture Hall,” the students told Saturday Independent.
Meanwhile, armed soldiers have been deployed to the campus to maintain security.
The attack on UNIMAID is coming just weeks after students of the institution raised concerns over the porous security network in the campus.
Prior to the attack, the students had complained that they were living in fears as the only security within the campus was provided by the institution’s in-house officials, who they say were not well equipped to resist attack from the Boko Haram sect.
Confirming the military onslaught against the Boko Haram, the Defence Headquarters on Friday said that the troops fighting Boko Haram insurgency foiled an attempted attack on a military location in Maiduguri with heavy human casualty on the side of the terrorists while four soldiers were wounded during the encounter.
Director, Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the attempted attack was aimed at freeing some insurgents.
“Pockets of terrorists apparently in a move to boost their depleted stock of fighters this morning attacked a military location in Maiduguri with a view to freeing their colleagues who are being held in detention.
“The attack has been successfully repelled with heavy human casualty on the terrorists. Some of the terrorists’ fired in their efforts to break into the detention facility, included those they came to rescue. Many of the terrorists and their weapons have been captured. Four soldiers were wounded and are being treated,” he stated.
Olukolade said that the troops have pursuit the fleeing insurgents.
“Hot pursuits by land and air operations are ongoing along with cordon and search of surrounding localities.
“No institution has been reported attacked, although the effect of firing from the encounter could be noticed in surrounding facilities in Maiduguri. Details will be given later. It is believed that this terrorists attempt is in response to the intensity of attacks on their strongholds in camps at Talala, Monguzum, Sambisa forests, Gwoza, Mandara Mountains as well as the general area of Lake Chad. The camps have been destroyed and many insurgents killed,” the director of defence information stated.
Meanwhile, a 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Maiduguri. The curfew starts from 2pm Friday and will be on till the security situation improves. Our Correspondent reports that residents have been instructed to stay indoors.
Alhaji Ahmed Jidda, Secretary to the State Government, announced the decision in a statement released to newsmen in Maiduguri.
The statement said the curfew was imposed in consultation with the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.
“During the period of curfew, government pleads with all citizens to remain calm.
“Only vehicles on emergency calls and essential services are allowed to move while the curfew will be lifted as soon as situation improves,” it added.
Source: Daily Independent
