About 2,000 security operatives and military
hardware, including fighter jets have been deployed to Maiduguri ahead of
yesterday’s declaration of State of Emergency.
hardware, including fighter jets have been deployed to Maiduguri ahead of
yesterday’s declaration of State of Emergency.
In neighboring Yobe State, it is not clear how
many soldiers were deployed but residents said shortly after the declaration of
state of emergency, stop and search operations have been intensified in the
state capital while movement have been restricted in other places.
many soldiers were deployed but residents said shortly after the declaration of
state of emergency, stop and search operations have been intensified in the
state capital while movement have been restricted in other places.
Residents said the deployment of the federal
troops, including the army, navy, air force and operatives of the State
Security Service (SSS) began at the weekend.
troops, including the army, navy, air force and operatives of the State
Security Service (SSS) began at the weekend.
“We started sensing danger on Saturday when we
saw military trucks conveying soldiers to the Joint Task Force (JTF)
headquarters along Pompomari area,” Usman Jika, a resident of Maiduguri said.
saw military trucks conveying soldiers to the Joint Task Force (JTF)
headquarters along Pompomari area,” Usman Jika, a resident of Maiduguri said.
“By Sunday morning, so many roadblocks have
sprung up in the state capital and there was noticeable cordon and search of
houses by new faces (soldiers),” he said.
sprung up in the state capital and there was noticeable cordon and search of
houses by new faces (soldiers),” he said.
A resident of Kumshe, one of the red spots in
Maiduguri said his neighbour was beaten to pulp on Sunday when soldiers
besieged the areas and forced all the people out of their houses.
Maiduguri said his neighbour was beaten to pulp on Sunday when soldiers
besieged the areas and forced all the people out of their houses.
“All the soldiers that came to the
neighborhood appeared new in the town, some of them said it is now time for
‘fire for fire” he said.
neighborhood appeared new in the town, some of them said it is now time for
‘fire for fire” he said.
Another resident said he saw military
aircrafts landing at the Maiduguri International Airport and the air strip at
the Air Force base in the state capital.
aircrafts landing at the Maiduguri International Airport and the air strip at
the Air Force base in the state capital.
“A lot of fighting equipment have been
deployed to Maiduguri,” Hajja Maimuna, a resident of Gomari, whose house is
close to the Air Force base said.
deployed to Maiduguri,” Hajja Maimuna, a resident of Gomari, whose house is
close to the Air Force base said.
“We are really terrified because the military
operatives coming to Maiduguri in the last two days far outnumbered those that
came during the previous emergency rule,” she said.
operatives coming to Maiduguri in the last two days far outnumbered those that
came during the previous emergency rule,” she said.
“Even though the state governor has not been
removed, which is good, the truth is that Maiduguri is now a garrison town,
full of angry soldiers who are ready to kill at the slightest provocation. The deployment
will definitely hamper social and economic life of the people,” she said.
removed, which is good, the truth is that Maiduguri is now a garrison town,
full of angry soldiers who are ready to kill at the slightest provocation. The deployment
will definitely hamper social and economic life of the people,” she said.
Source: Daily Trust
