Many Feared Dead As Explosions, Gunshots Rock Maiduguri
Several residents of Maiduguri state are feared after multiple sources reported gunshots and explosions near Adamkolo and Gwange areas in the state, it has emerged.
According to ChannelsTV, some residents say they also heard multiple gunshots around Mairi area a few minutes past 6 pm. Mairi is a student-dominated area near the University of Maiduguri.
The military is said to have deployed gun trucks to the area as reports indicated that worshippers in a mosque on the street called “Layin Bori” may have been killed.
Ten people were killed and 21 others injured local militia and residents told AFP.
Residents also said the insurgents fired two volleys of explosives on the city, hitting the densely populated Adamkolo and Gwange neighbourhoods.
A militia leader Babakura Kolo told AFP;
We have six dead in Adamkolo and four others in Gwange from the mortar explosions. The explosives were fired by Boko Haram terrorists from Kaleri on the outskirts of the city.
At least 16 people were injured in Gwange and five in Adamkolo, said another militiaman, Umar Ari, who gave the same death toll.
This is the first attack on Maiduguri town in a long time, however this may not be unconnected with the sustained onslaught on insurgents in Sambisa axis of the state.
Sustained attacks on Boko Haram strongholds have in the past forced the insurgents to regroup as they sometimes filter into towns or attack soft targets.
However, today the Nigerian army recaptured Marte, an area in Borno state, from the hold of suspected terrorists.
Brigadier General, Director Army Public Relations, Mohammed Yerima, made this known in a statement titled, “Troops recovered Marte killing scores of Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State in West African Province terrorists”.
The statement partly reads;
Troops of Nigerian Army troops this afternoon, around 3 pm, recovered New Marte and adjoining communities from the devilish Boko Haram terrorists.
This is coming less than the 48 hours directive earlier given to the troops to recover the town by the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru.
The troops backed by air cover from the Nigerian Air force, successfully charged through Marte town, destroying several Improvised Explosive Device and landmines laced across their routes and killing scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and successfully recovered the town.
The gallant troops are currently in total control of the general area.
More details to come.