Army Sets Up Investigative Committee On Maiduguri Attack

Nigerian Army yesterday constituted a four-member committee to unravel the cause of the Easter Sunday night attack in the suburbs of Maiduguri.
The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, made the disclosure while inaugurating the committee at the Military Command and Control Centre, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
Nicholas said the committee’s term of reference was to unravel the cause of the attack so as to forestall recurrence.
He explained that the committee, headed by Maj. Gen. Henry Wesley and three other army officers as members, was expected to submit its report within three days.
The theatre commander advised people in the metropolis to stay indoors in the event of attack by Boko Haram, and urged the people to be vigilant and report suspicious persons and objects to security agents. He added that “it is good for people to stay indoors whenever there is blast or anything, the insurgents take advantage of such situations to unleash terror and kill people.
“It is safer to stay indoors rather than exposing yourselves to danger. Casualties can be high if people troop out of their homes recklessly.”
According to him, the troops repelled attacks by the insurgents and suicide bombers at Bale Shuwa, Bale-Kawuri and Alkaramti communities in the outskirts of Maiduguri.
The commander disclosed that 19 persons were killed and over 80 others wounded, while seven suicide bombers were killed in the attack.
Leader of the constituted committee, Wesley, said the committee would conduct fact finding visit to affected communities to ensure effective investigation into the incident.
Wesley assured of the committee’s readiness to submit its report within the stipulated time.