Dec. 29, 2013
No fewer than eight persons were reportedly killed yesterday in Maiduguri by suspected Boko Haram members.
According to a report by Reuters, the gunmen stormed a venue of a bachelor party and started shooting sporadically, killing eight persons on the spot.
Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan ordered an all out offensive against the northeastern rebels in Africa’s leading energy exporter.
Though they retreated into a hilly area around the Cameroon border, the rebels have since stepped up attacks on both soldiers and civilians.
“Three Boko Haram members came on motorcycles at about 11 yesterday night,” Abdul Usman told Reuters in the main northeastern city of Maiduguri, where he fled after escaping the attack on Tashan Alade village. “They were shooting indiscriminately.”
Nigerian forces have stepped up the offensive against the rebels in the past few days after Boko Haram fighters armed with grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns attacked an army barracks in the town of Bama.