Boko Haram Kills 82 In Maiduguri Attack

About 82 persons were killed in yesterday’s attempted invasion of Maiduguri by the Islamic fundamentalists, Boko Haram, security sources have said.
According to the breakdown of the security sources who spoke anonymously to our source, not less than 70 insurgents were killed, ten innocent civilians and two insurgents were felled in the attempted invasion of the town, the second in a space of seven days.
About 65 persons were reported killed during penultimate Sunday’s multiple attack on Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram.
Security sources said that 50 insurgents were killed in Dalwa, about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, where the battle was hottest as the insurgents met their Waterloo.
It was gathered that about 20 others were killed in other parts of the town where the terrorists also attempted gaining entrance into the town.
It was also gathered that though the number of soldiers lost in the attack might be more, two were reportedly killed and had been conveyed from the battlefield with five seen seriously injured.
Defence spokesman,  Major General Chris Olukolade said in a statement that: “The terrorists’ attack on Maiduguri in the early hours of Sunday was quickly contained. The terrorists incurred massive casualty. The situation is calm as mopping up operation in the affected area is ongoing.”
He said the military captured arumoured vehicles, and artillery guns as well as other arms and vehicles while repelling the terrorists,
Fighting began at roughly 3:00 am (0200 GMT) with loud explosions and gunfire, as the Islamists tried to enter the city from the south.
After heavy fighting in the Mulai area just three kilometres south of the city, troops backed by vigilantes repelled the attack, but the militants then began a separate assault to the east and gun battles were ongoing, multiple witnesses said.
“The gunmen were initially subdued in Mulai, but now they have changed strategy and are attacking through the Damboa road (to the east),” said local Bukar Mungono, in an account supported by two others.
A resident, Fannami Dalwaye, said people from the Mulai area ran towards the city-centre as the violence raged earlier on Sunday.
“Some of us are in mosques praying, just waiting to hear the outcome of what happens,” Krenuwa said.
According to a member of a youth vigilante group, who spoke anonymously to our correspondent on phone from the town, the insurgents attacked from Ngom, Dalwa, Molai and Jawuri.
He said: “The insurgents in the customary way attacked just moments after the early morning Islamic prayers. They attacked the town from Ngom (the border with Mafa), Dalwa (the border with Konduga), Molai (the border with Damboa) and Jawuri (around Njimtilo, border with Kaga on the Damaturu road).”
He disclosed that an unspecified number of people were killed, both insurgents and civilians adding that “the insurgents launched two rocket propelled grenades into Gindari Polo area killing many civilians.”
He said: “Some youths also came out in their numbers to push back the insurgents. We have killed many of them. Some retreated through the railway heading to Benesheikh and Goniri.”
Also Chadian aircraft struck Boko Haram positions in the Nigerian border town of Gamboru for a second straight day yesterday.
Two military choppers pounded targets in Gamboru for about two hours, setting off loud explosions and sending thick clouds of smoke into the sky, the journalist said from the town of Fotokol about 500 metres (yards) away.
Meanwhile, two bomb blasts yesterday rocked Gombe city, as the BokoHaram  continued their attack in North East of the country.
Five persons have died, according to initial estimates, given by military sources and witnesses.
Also, a suicide bomb attack targeting a political meeting yesterday in Potiskum, Yobe State killed seven people, witnesses and a police officer said.
“We have evacuated eight bodies including the suicide bombers to hospital,” said a police officer at the scene, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Witness Nura Umar, who gave the same death toll, said the bomber emerged from a bus that pulled up in front of the home of Sabo Garbu, who is running for a seat in the House of Representatives on the ruling Peoples Democracy Party ticket.
Garbu was holding a campaign meeting ahead of February 14 polls in his home at the time but none of the participants were injured, the policeman and three witnesses said.
Boko Haram Islamists have carried out waves of similar bombings across the northeast during a six-year uprising, and have killed politicians in targeted attacks.
But it was not immediately clear why the insurgents would want to target Garbu and it was possible the attack was carried out by another group with a different political motive.

APC Rivers South-East Senatorial Candidate, Sen. Magnus Abe (centre), former Oyigbo Council Chairman, Felix Nweke (right), CTC Chairman, David Onyeagorom (left), during the APC ward-to-ward rally in Oyigbo LGA