Armed Assailants In Military Uniform Open Fire On Group In Maiduguri

Gunmen dressed in military uniform on Tuesday opened fire at a group of people along Baga road in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Area, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria. 

HumAngle learnt that the incident was related to the killing of a Nigerian soldier by an angry mob in Barka da Zuwa, a notorious relaxation spot for soldiers and criminals in the area.

HumAngle reports that a soldier fired his assault rifle, on Saturday, at a group of people at Barka da Zuwa,  after which he was reportedly lynched by a mob consisting of friends of the victims. 

The incident which happened around 8 pm led to the death of at least two persons, while three others are recovering from injuries sustained.

This newspaper gathered that the assailants suspected to be soldiers on a revenge mission over the death of their colleague fired sporadically and abducted four persons. 

Two of the abducted persons were found dead around Shagari low-cost, while the other two were shot on their legs, HumAngle was informed.

A number of residents were reported to have gathered in the area on Wednesday, in the afternoon protesting against the incident. 

A source told our reporter that Barka da Zuwa has turned into a haven for both criminals and soldiers dismissed by the Army or those deserting their units.

The Borno State Government had in 2018 marked at least 47 hotels within Maiduguri, the state capital, described as “illegal alcohol joints,” for demolition.

Kaka Shehu Lawan, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice mentioned the threat to security and promotion of immoral conduct among teenagers as some of the key reasons the government marked the structures for demolition.

Lawan was quoted by Premium Times in 2019 to have said that about 20 brothels, alcohol joints, and illegal hotels were destroyed for violating extant state laws that banned their operations since 2018.