Military imposes curfew in Maiduguri over attack

TO protect lives and property, the military yesterday imposed a 24-hour curfew in Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State following Wednesday’s attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Giwa barracks and Bale and Kayamla villages.

Meanwhile, military sources at the 7 Division of Nigerian Army in Borno State and the ones from Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Maiduguri, said that three soldiers, 27 civilians and scores of Boko Haram terrorists’ suspects were feared killed in the attack.

In a related development, about five Boko Haram members have been reportedly killed in Iraq by Mosul Youth Resistance Movement on Wednesday, May 13.

Two suspected female suicide bombers and other gunmen had launched an attack on the barracks which lasted for three hours on Wednesday evening.

The attack was however foiled by troops, after three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were detonated in the cashew plantation, south of the targeted barrack and military posts.

In a statement yesterday , spokesman of the 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Col. Tukur Gusau , said that the dusk to dawn curfew was to protect people’s lives and property in the metropolis , as the military continues to mop up the affected areas Gusau added that the suicide bombers sneaked into the cashew plantation and detonated three explosives which led to many residents scampering to safety.

“Since the security situation is currently under control of the military in Maiduguri, the curfew could be lifted even before the end of today, but right now all residents should remain in their houses, until the military completes its condone and search operations of some areas in the metropolis,” Gusau added.

“After sighting the two female suicide bombers in the cashew plantation, we pursued them before the explosive devices strapped into their veils exploded, while the gunmen along the routes to Bale and Kayamla villages fell and were killed in an attempt to flee the advancing soldiers,” said the military source on phone yesterday in Maiduguri.

Malam Barka Modu, a member of CJTF also told The Guardian yesterday that six youths were killed while trying to stop the insurgents from attacking the barrack This is the first report of the presence of Boko Haram militants in Iraq following the sect’s allegiance to the deadly Islamic State (IS) and IS’s acceptance of the group’s allegiance.