Boko Haram Militants Attacking Maiduguri Since Last Night
Category: Boko Haram News
The insurgents have not had much success because Nigeria troops have been fighting back and successfully repelling the terrorists.
The daring attack by the militants is coming a few hours after President Goodluck Jonathan ended a presidential campaign rally in Maiduguri promising to find high school girls kidnapped by the deadly sect last April and re-unite them with their families.
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 33Artillery 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.
Maiduguri is home to tens of thousands of people who have fled from Boko Haram attacks elsewhere, and was recently visited by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language, launched military operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state.
Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria.
'Pray for us' Residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, say they woke to sustained loud explosions and gunshots.
Roads and business have been closed by security forces.
The attack appeared to have begun in the Njimtilo district on the edge of the city.
One resident there, Rachel Adamu, told Reuters: "Please pray for us, we are in danger, under serious attack now."
The BBC's Chris Ewokor in Abuja says the military are carrying out co-ordinated air strikes and ground attacks against the insurgents.
Maiduguri would be a major prize for Boko Haram, which last tried to take the city in December 2013.
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| Boko Haram Militants during an Attack |
Boko Haram militants began the onslaught on Maiduguri coming from different directions
with its largest contingent coming through Damaturu road.
The insurgents have not had much success because Nigeria troops have been fighting back and successfully repelling the terrorists.
The daring attack by the militants is coming a few hours after President Goodluck Jonathan ended a presidential campaign rally in Maiduguri promising to find high school girls kidnapped by the deadly sect last April and re-unite them with their families.
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 33Artillery 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.
Fighters from the
Islamist militant group Boko Haram have launched an attack on the key
city of Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria, reports say.
Fierce fighting is said to be taking place on the outskirts of the city as militants attempt to enter it.
The military is carrying out air strikes, and a curfew has been imposed.
The military is carrying out air strikes, and a curfew has been imposed.
Maiduguri is home to tens of thousands of people who have fled from Boko Haram attacks elsewhere, and was recently visited by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language, launched military operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state.
Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria.'Pray for us' Residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, say they woke to sustained loud explosions and gunshots.
Roads and business have been closed by security forces.
The attack appeared to have begun in the Njimtilo district on the edge of the city.
One resident there, Rachel Adamu, told Reuters: "Please pray for us, we are in danger, under serious attack now."
The BBC's Chris Ewokor in Abuja says the military are carrying out co-ordinated air strikes and ground attacks against the insurgents.
Maiduguri would be a major prize for Boko Haram, which last tried to take the city in December 2013.
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