Military denies 55 killed in Maiduguri attack, confirms 28 dead

 

    Military denies 55 killed in Maiduguri attack, confirms 28 dead 

Category: Local news SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL SEND ON WHATSAPP SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL SEND ON WHATSAPP

     - The Nigeria military said at least 28 people including a soldier, were killed while about 55 others seriously injured in an attack launched by Boko Haram on Sunday night, April 1 

      - The soldiers on guard at the outskirts of Maiduguri were said to have also killed six of the insurgents during the attack 

    - Survivors of the attack said residents of Maiduguri were forced to keep vigil all Sunday night following hours of thunderous explosions Not less than 28 people were reportedly left dead while scores others wounded in coordinated attacks that took place overnight on a military camp and villages around the flashpoint Nigerian city of Maiduguri. 

      A senior officer in Maiduguri who confirmed the incident denied that the numbers of casualties was not up 55, explained that Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base in the Cashew Plantation area at the entrance to the city with bombers, mortars and guns, leading to a prolonged battle, Punch reports. According to him, ''Eighteen terrorists on foot attacked the military base while seven bombers targeted residents of nearby Bale Shuwar and Alikaranti villages at 8:50 pm. The terrorists fired mortars at troops.''

 READ ALSO: Senator harassed by constituents in Gombe days after another federal lawmaker was stoned in Taraba Meanwhile, Bello Dambatto, an official from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also said: ''So far we have recovered 18 dead bodies from the two villages.
 The victims were killed while trying to escape the fight between the insurgents and the military.’’ ''One soldier was among the dead, the army said in a statement, which added that it had killed six insurgents and “neutralised” seven bombers.'' 

   Also, a militia leader in the area helping soldiers in fighting Boko Haram Ba’Kura Abba Ali said: ''The attackers were trying to infiltrate into the city. ''The assailants climbed up a trench that had been dug in the sand round the city to stave off Boko Haram bombers and gun attacks, and attacked troops.'' Maiduguri residents reported hearing at least five explosions and sounds of gunfire coming from the Cashew Plantation area. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app A resident, Ibrahim Gremah said: ''Huge blasts and sounds of gunshots were heard all over the city last night and they continued for more than an hour.’’ Boko Haram’s nearly nine-year fight to establish a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria has claimed at least 20,000 lives and displaced more than two million people. Hundreds of thousands are holed up in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, where they are living in camps or with host families. Meanwhile, no fewer than four members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, four bombers and three civilians were reportedly left dead in an attack that took place on Friday evening, March 31. According to a press statement signed by Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, the deputy director, public relations, Theatre Command, ‘Operation Lafiya Dole, ''he four insurgents who had been routed out of the Sambisa Forest by troops in Operation Deep Punch II, were rummaging for food and logistics when they met their waterloo. Nollyrealmovies@bolgsopt.com