Boko Haram Unleash Mayhem In Maiduguri As Soldiers Repel The Attacks

Gunmen suspected to be members of the extremist Boko Haram sect have invaded Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, throwing the city into pandemonium.


The attackers, shooting sporadically at anything in sight, arrived at about 7:20 a.m. Friday through an area called Fori, near the Army's main base called Giwa Barracks.


The heavy shooting continues as at the time of this report.


An airforce jet fighter arrived exactly an hour after the attack started.


Women, children, men, young and old around the Giwa barracks area were seen running in confusion.


Echoes of gunfire and explosion were heard from the area.


The military jet continued to drop bombs at targeted areas.


Armed policemen have taken over some of the major roads leading to major government facilities.


Those who saw some of the attackers said they were dressed in military uniform.


The Boko Haram insurgents attempted invading the Giwa Barracks, but were repelled by soldiers.

Thick Smokes bellowing everywhere


The varying sounds indicate different types of weapons used by both soldiers and insurgents said residents of the state hotel who have witnessed such encounters in recently.

Meanwhile five members of the sect have been caught close to the University of Maiduguri where they have been said to have stormed the town very close to the University simultaneously.

Students living around Barma road said a stray bullet hit a female student who was going to school about the same time when the others stormed the town from the University side.

Although no death figure has been confirmed by the University, a mass communications student Mayum Etim told a source on phone that " It was correct that the insurgents stormed an area close to our school but they did not enter the campus. "

" A female student was said to have received bullet wounds on her shoulder just above her breast but she has gone for treatment to stop the bleeding at the teaching hospital where services were still on going since they have soldiers keeping on guard.

"They did not enter our campus. It is however deserted by students who took off for their lives when the shots started booming opposite the campus. Soldiers have completely cordoned the place and the usual 7th division trucks are patrolling our streets from the Konjuga end of the University to Customs area which has porous areas where they dared to enter having being repelled from the Giwa barracks axis.

"The civilian JTF guys are doing a great job as they have been fishing out the determined insurgents who are bent on destabilizing the town. As a matter of fact, they have just caught five fleeing members of the sect near our home outside the Campos. They have been handed over to the men of the 7th division.

Meanwhile the daring seige on Maiduguri from about three fronts of the town continues. Fire Service vehicles were seen being escorted by soldiers to an unknown destination to put off fire on buildings that may have been set on fire by the insurgents from the Giwa barracks end of the town.