Nigerian Troops In Maiduguri Firing To Scare Boko Haram
Some residents of the uneasy northeastern Nigerian city of
Maiduguri said they were in panic mode after hearing sustained shooting
that emanated from two military barracks there.
Some
residents of the uneasy northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri said
they were in panic mode after hearing sustained shooting that emanated
from two military barracks there. Several sources told SaharaReporters
that there were prolonged bouts of shooting from Giwa and Maimalari
barracks in Maiduguri.
Troops advancing to retake Damboa
A military source confirmed the
shooting, but denied that they had to do with attacks by the Islamist
insurgency group, Boko Haram. Instead, the military officer said the
shooting was meant to scare away Boko Haram militants.
Boko Haram fighters had long set their sights on capturing Maiduguri,
the capital of Borno State and the location where the group was
originally founded by Abubakar Yusuf who was slain in 2009 after being
captured by Nigerian security agents.Troops advancing to retake Damboa
A military source confirmed the
shooting, but denied that they had to do with attacks by the Islamist
insurgency group, Boko Haram. Instead, the military officer said the
shooting was meant to scare away Boko Haram militants. Several residents who spoke to our correspondent said they were scared when they were startled awake by sounds of gunshots and rocket-propelled grenades fired by Nigerian troops.
Residents of the city were already terrified following a statement by Governor Kashim Shettima who declared that Islamist militants were aiming to invade and seize Maiduguri following their military successes in Adamawa State.
Our military source explained that the shooting was preemptive and aimed at discouraging the Islamist fighters from contemplating an attack on Maiduguri.
“Our troops are more than capable of defending Maiduguri,” said the officer, adding that residents should go about their business without fear.
Quoting military sources, SaharaReporters had recently reported that the insurgents were planning to attack capture several important cities and towns across northeastern Nigeria.
The Islamist group has recently seized the town of Mubi, bombed a bus station in Gombe, suicide bombed a procession in Potiskum, and broken into a federal prison to free prisoners in Kogi State.
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