Insurgence: Boko Haram Attacks Maiduguri, Forces Many Residents Out of Their Homes

A renewed hostility by the dreaded Boko Haram sect on Jiddari Polo, a community in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, forced many residents from the area to abandon their homes.

The sect had engaged troops of the Nigerian Army in a fierce gun duel as they attempt to take control of the area on Wednesday, at about the time the majority Muslim residents were about to break their Ramadan fast.

Residents of the area were preparing to break their Ramadan fast when the defeaning sound of gunshots and bombs alerted them to a seemingly attack underway, which stirred apprehension among them, as they abandoned their homes to flee to the city for safety.

Other residents of the town who were afraid of been caught in the crossfire between the Army and the terrorists, stayed indoors laying flat on the floors, as bullets flew on the streets of Jiddari Polo, an area on the outskirts of the troubled town.

It was learnt that while the fierce battle lasted, the Nigerian Army was able to resist the takeover move of the terrorists, killing undisclosed number of them, while some escaped with gunshot injuries.

A resident who shared his frightening experience with our correspondent, said the insurgent group who stormed the area in an overwhelming number and shot sporadically at anything in their sights.

For several minutes before the Nigerian Army take them on, he said, the terrorists rained fierce gunshot at several houses, forcing some residents to hurriedly lie on the floor to escape gunshots.

“We were about to break our fast when sound of gunshots alerted us of an attack. Before we could get ourselves together, they are already before our eyes and started to shoot sporadically at anything,” the resident narrated.

“So, everyone started to run for safety and I think some were not lucky. And the swift intervention of the military saved some of us, otherwise the story would have been different.

“I already fled my house and will probably return tomorrow (today) when I can be sure that the area is safe. They (Army) asked us to return but I am not taking any further risks,” he said.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, who confirmed the attack, said the troops repelled the invasion and killed most of the terrorists.