Dec. 2, 2013
Scores of people are believed to have been killed
The outlawed Boko Haram sect on Monday morning attacked the international airport and various parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The attack has forced the military to impose a 24 hour curfew on the Borno capital.
Unconfirmed reports say a plane was burnt down at the airport. Yakubu Datti, the aviation spokesperson, could not be reached to comment on the airport attack.
The attack is the first in recent months to be launched in Maiduguri by the sect, who have mainly attacked neighbouring communities to the Borno capital since the military increased its onslaught after the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno in May.
The military is yet to state the casualty figure from the early Monday attack although residents say scores of people including some of the terrorists were killed.
Telephone networks have been turned off in Borno since the emergency rule was declared in May, making communication with residents difficult. …
A military source, who sought anonymity as he was not permitted to speak, said three military aircrafts and several vehicles were attacked by the terrorists.
Residents of the Air-force base said a combined effort by soldiers and police officers repelled the insurgents, leading to the death of several people.
“We have seen several vehicles of the insurgents up in flames some smoking with corpses of people burnt inside. Some persons were also seen with slit throats,” a resident of the base said.
The military has since cordoned the vicinity forcing people to trek over 4km to get to the city centre. – PREMIUMTIMES