Soldiers of the Nigerian
army and Boko Haram
terrorists are currently
engaged in a fierce
exchange of fire since
Saturday night as
insurgents, in their
hundreds, attempt to
invade Maiduguri, the
Borno state capital,
security sources have told
PREMIUM TIMES.
This is happening as
reports filtered into
Maiduguri that the nearby
town of Monguno had been
seized by the Boko Haram
terrorist. That could not be
independently confirmed as
at the time of publishing
this.
A security source told
PREMIUM TIMES, “We had
a sleepless night till this
morning because this
elements tried to enter
Maiduguri from Dalwa and
Limanti axis but our soldiers
were able to repell them.
They retreated and took
another flank around
Njimtilo this morning and
our troops hav been
engaging them there too.”
Njimtilo is about 20
kilometres away from
Maiduguri, the state capital.
As at the time of filing this
report more troops, together
with operatives of the
Civilian-JTF, were seen
moving towards Njimtilo.
Residents of Maiduguri 1000
Unit Housing Estate, not
very far away from
Njimtilo, are fleeing their
houses and moving toward
the downtown.
Witnesses said bullets were
flying and empty shells
were seen littering the roads
as soldiers of the Nigerian
Air Force Base and 33
Artillery brigade continued
to shoot into the air.
Fighter jet of the Nigeria
airforce was heard hovering
over the town at about 9am.
Details of the ongoing
attack is still sketchy as
sources in Monguno and
Njimtilo said the fight is still
on.
Boko Haram leader,
Abubakar Shekau, had last
week in a video boasted to
have more than enough
arms to execute a major
war against Nigeria.
The defence headquarters
tweeted via its
handle @DefenceInfoNG , “Troops
are repelling a simultaneous
attack on Monguno and
Maiduguri by terrorists.
“Curfew is imposed on
#MAIDUGURI with immediate
effect till further notice as
pursuit of retreating terrorists
begin.”
It added, “Coordinated Air and
Land OPs being conducted
now.”
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