Soldier Dies In ISWAP’s Latest Attack On Maiduguri
The attack came on the back of a similar attack in Koffa, another outskirt suburb of Maiduguri, was attacked in the Northeast state.
An armed gang suspected to be of the ISWAP faction of Boko Haram on Monday, Sept. 27, around 8:30 p.m. attacked soldiers at the main entrance checkpoint to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital in Northeast Nigeria, killing one soldier.
The attack had caused a massive panic for residents of Njimtilo, a hamlet located near the checkpoint. Sources said the attackers took advantage of an opening at the parapet behind the Borno State University to surprise the soldiers on guard duty.
A reliable security source informed HumAngle that “they killed one guard commander and went away with a lot of weapons and ammunition abandoned by troops.”
The attack was the first on the checkpoint at the entrance of Maiduguri. The source said the Njimtilo attack took place barely 24 hours after Koffa, another outskirt suburb of Maiduguri, was attacked on the night of Sunday, Sept. 26.
“They also came to the Koffa neighborhood, behind Ajilari Cross and began to shoot on Sunday night,” the source, a security operative and resident of Njimtilo, who simply identified himself as Bunu, told HumAngle.
Local security sources said the recent upsurge of attacks in the same direction of the state capital may be due to the encampment of repentant Boko Haram members in that general area.
“Government has to reconsider its decision on keeping the ex-fighters here in Maiduguri because that is what is attracting their colleagues and they will keep on coming to attack us,” said Samaila Yahaya, a resident of Ngomari.
The military has yet to issue any statement on the attacks. But a senior military personnel who spoke to HumAngle in confidence confirmed the attack saying “it was a sad one…the soldiers were taken unaware.”
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
