Boko Haram Attacks Maiduguri, Kills 17 After Years Of Relative Peace

At least 17 persons died and a dozen others were injured when a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) fired by Boko Haram terrorists hit several locations within Maiduguri, Borno State capital, Northeast Nigeria.

“We were preparing to say our Maghrib prayer when an RPG hit people near a mosque,” said Mallam Musa, a resident of Gwange Burburwa area of Maiduguri, where the attack took place Tuesday evening.

The attack, coming after months of relative peace in the city of Maiduguri, was believed to be a coordinated one by the terror group as three of such was reported at the same time.

According to Ahmad Muhammad, the other RPG attack occurred near Gwange Bridge in Maiduguri, who is a resident of the locality.

“The rocket fell close to a set of shops of Keke NAPPEP tricycle dealers, but thank God there was no casualty,” Ahmad said.

Another RPG was reported to have landed near a mosque in the Adam Kolo area of the city during the same time.

“The RPG killed three people and injured many,” said Mele Gana, a resident living close to the area of the explosion.

According to a senior government official who did not want to be named in the press because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, the total death toll was put at 17 while 43 persons sustained various degrees of injuries.

Mammadu, a resident of Kaleri Shuwari area of Maiduguri, reported that “We heard gunshots and have seen flying bullets near the trench of the military.”

He added that, after the Maghrib prayer, many people in the area ran for safety and residents of the University of Maiduguri quarters close to the area were left in fear.

People in the Customs area have also reported having heard sporadic heavy gunshots across Maiduguri.

Last year, a similar rocket attack occurred in the town’s Kaliari area, where two persons were killed and five persons injured.

Tuesday’s multiple attacks indicate a change in attack pattern by the insurgents.

Before then, the town witnessed relative peace from rampant suicide bomb attacks since the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) unit of the Nigerian Police fished out over a dozen terrorists and their collaborators that were hibernating in the town of Maiduguri two years ago.

The coordinated attacks came a few hours after Nigerian troops recaptured New Marte. New Marte had earlier fallen into the hands of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents.

Mohammed Yerima, a Brigadier General and the Army spokesperson had announced Tuesday afternoon that at about 3 p.m., the troops recovered New Marte and adjoining communities from the terrorists.

He added that the troops destroyed several Improvised Explosive Devices and landmines planted across their routes and killed several insurgents.

The ground troops were backed by combat aircraft during the operations to secure the town and adjoining communities.