Scores killed as troops battle Boko Haram in Maiduguri

Scores killed as troops battle Boko Haram in Maiduguri

Sunday service was disrupted in most churches in
Maiduguri, Borno State this morning as insurgents
entered the capital city from Dalwa with armoured
tanks and other weapons, shooting and killing.

According to reports the attack started “a few
minutes after 5am” and soldiers immediately
mobilised to counter them.

One of the residents said that the
aim of Boko Haram leadership was to capture
Maiduguri, an important city in the North-East, a
few days before the February 14 presidential
election “to send a strong message to the
government that it is in charge of the city”.

Signals were immediately sent out by troops to
religious leaders not to open churches and mosques
“to reduce casualties”.

It was learnt that troops had killed many of the
insurgents and the battle is fierce along Maiduguri/
Damboa highway.

Fighter jets had been deployed to bomb the
advancing insurgents. Residents remain indoors.

Speaking on phone with our reporter, one of the
residents said: “We don’t really know what is going
on now. I have never heard this type of bombing
and shooting in my life. We are all afraid here. Even
light (electricity) had been cut. May God protect us”.

The insurgents had, last week, launched
simultaneous attacks on three Borno towns,
Maiduguri, Konguda and Munguno.