This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
 |
/reeve.gif)
Armed insurgents launched a ferocious attack in Maiduguri yesterday, pounding an Air Force base, an Army barracks and a police divisional headquarters, in the first such violence in the city for five months.
Authorities said three decommissioned military aircraft and two helicopters were destroyed in the attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters, while two Air Force personnel were injured.
Residents reported hearing gunshots and explosions through the night as the insurgents engaged security forces.
Daily Trust learnt that the gunmen first raided the 33 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army along Maiduguri-Damaturu road, destroying most of the buildings there.
They then moved to the 79Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force and destroyed most structures. Helicopters, vehicles, mechanical workshop, offices and personnel homes were all destroyed.
From there, the insurgents targeted the Divisional Police headquarters at Bulunkutu and damaged the entire building.
Over 100 vehicles, including those belonging to security operatives, Boko Haram fighters and civilians were burnt. Nearby filling stations and some residential buildings were also not spared.
A Daily Trust correspondent, who visited the scenes of the incident along with a team of state officials, reported seeing some Hilux vehicles with anti-aircraft gun mounted on them, apparently left behind by the insurgents.
Many empty shells of anti-aircraft bullets were also seen on the road.
Security sources said the insurgents had a field day throughout the time they operated, between 3.30am and 8 o’clock in the morning.
Salisu Baba, who lives at the 777 Housing Estate near the Air Force base, said of the attack: “It was like the end of the world.”
“In our housing estate, part of the police formation there was also destroyed and two people in the cell were shot dead,” he said.
Baba added that the insurgents came in large numbers, “more than 2,000 of them, some with explosives, some with rocket-propelled grenades and some with AK 47 rifles. I saw them through the window of my house, my wife also saw them.”
A security official said it was after the arrival of a military fighter jet from Yola, Adamawa State, that the insurgents retreated.
This is the first attack on Maiduguri in the past five months, and sources said the insurgents have been planning to raid the state capital, where youth vigilantes aligned with security forces to dislodge the Boko Haram sect.
‘This is our land’
Authorities said no security personnel was killed in the violence.
In a statement, the Defence Headquarters in Abuja said the military repelled the attack and killed 24 insurgents.
“Nigerian security forces today repelled a pre-dawn attack on Maiduguri by suspected terrorists. Military locations such as Nigerian Air Force Base and some Nigerian Army locations in Maiduguri were targeted during the attack,” said Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade.
“Three decommissioned military aircraft as well as two helicopters were incapacitated in the course of the attack. Two Air Force personnel were also wounded while 24 insurgents died during the exchange of fire.
“Security forces are in pursuit of the terrorists in the Djemtillo general area along the Maiduguri/Banishek axis. Movements in Maiduguri and environs have been restricted. Citizens are enjoined to report any of the fleeing insurgents, most of whom could be identified with gunshot wounds whenever they are sighted.”
The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army based in Maiduguri also issued a statement saying they repelled the attack.
“In the early hours of Monday 2nd December 2013, Boko Haram terrorists attempted to gain access to our locations in Maiduguri metropolis. However, troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army have successfully repelled the insurgents and inflicted serious casualties on them,” spokesman Col. Mohammed Dole said.
But a security source said: “The terrorists caught both the Army and the Air Force men napping. They entered everywhere in the two barracks. They killed many officers and men, as well as women.”
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who went round the affected areas, expressed shock over the violence.
He was taken round by the commander of the 79 Composite Group, Mr Nuruddeen Abiodun, and the commissioner of police Mr Lawan Tanko.
After assessing the level of destruction, the governor said: “We would never be cowed by the antics of terrorists. We would not move an inch from Maiduguri until we conquered them or die. This is our land; we would stand by our people.”
He added: “Both the commissioner of police and the air force commander told me that they did not miss any of their men. The air force commander said few of his men sustained injuries and we thank God that they are safe.”
The divisional police officer of Bulunkutu told Governor Shettima that he and some of his men escaped by the whiskers.
“The terrorists were fully armed and dressed in military attires. When we heard sounds of gunshots, we headed towards the main road. We met the insurgents and but we thought they were officers. We introduced ourselves but when they started firing, I told my men to lie flat. That was how we escaped,” he said.
Round-the-clock curfew
Meanwhile, authorities have imposed a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri.
A statement by the secretary to the Borno State government Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda said: “The Borno State Government in consultation with the GOC 7 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Obida Ethan, has decided to impose a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and environs starting from 11am today Monday, 2nd December, 2013.”
He added: “Only vehicles on emergency call and essential services are allowed to move during the period. The curfew would be lifted as soon as the situation improves.”
Following the curfew, markets, schools as well as the state and federal secretariats were closed throughout yesterday.
Our correspondents who went round Maiduguri in the entourage of Governor Shettima saw four dead bodies. Two were said to be of Boko Haram insurgents and the others of civilians
The governor later paid a sympathy visit to the home of the two civilians where he was told that the insurgents stormed the house and killed them.
“Two of my children were killed, one in the shop and the other in his room. They are my elder children,” Baba Kura, the father of the deceased, told the governor.
The curfew has also disrupted road and air travel into the city.
The Maiduguri-Damaturu highway and other roads leading in to the city were closed, while yesterday’s Arik flight from Abuja to Maiduguri was cancelled.
Checks at the Arik Air counter at the Lagos airport showed that today’s flight to Maiduguri has also been cancelled, though the flight for Wednesday remained open.
Spokesman for Aviation parastatals Mr. Yakubu Dati told Daily Trust that the Maiduguri airport was not affected by yesterday’s violence. But he added that because of safety concerns and the curfew, flight operations in and out of the airport had been suspended indefinitely.
Jonathan, security chiefs meet
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday summoned service chiefs to a meeting, in an apparent response to the attacks in Maiduguri.
The three-hour meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika and Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh.
There was no official communication on the resolution of the meeting, which ended around 3.45pm.
After the meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff, who initially refused to talk to journalists, later simply said the situation was being managed.
As a member you get access to all our
premium content and benefits learn more
