From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
THE military yesterday gave an insight into how Boko Haram killed 85 civilians in Maiduguri, Borno State last Saturday.
This is even as witnesses said the attackers, comprising of male and female insurgents, invaded Dalori, a small community located east of Maiduguri along the volatile Konduga- Bama Road, in two Golf cars, some motorcycles and bicycles at about 7.20pm. For about 30 minutes, the insurgents unleashed terror throwing bombs into houses as resident fled. Soldiers quickly moved in to save the situation.
Spokesman of 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri and Media Coordinator, Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Mustapha Ankas, described the attack as Boko Haram’s “desperate efforts for reprisal attacks on strong, determined and committed members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and innocent citizens.”
In a statement issued yesterday, Col Ankas said Boko Haram started opening fire and burning houses. “to cause rancour and penetrate crowd with suicide bombers.
“While people were running to Gomari Kerkeri village for safety, three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd, but were intercepted and subsequently got blown up. During the incident, lives were lost while some people sustained injuries,” he said without providing details of casualty.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia confirmed 65 corpses were deposited at State Specialists Hospital. He disclosed this when the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, visited to sympathize with the wounded victims at the hospital. Also, the deputy governor, while briefing journalists after the visit disclosed that 10 other bodies have been buried in Dalori by the people while another 10 bodies are at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) morgue, bringing the total casualty to 85.