SOLDIERS AND BOKO HARAM EXCHANGING BULLETS IN MAIDUGIRI.
(Happening Now): Boko Haram And Soldiers Are Exchanging Bullets In
Maidugiri In A Bid To Govern The State(Read Who Is Winning The
Battle)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.
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 33
Artillery 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.