By Yemi Oyedele
Following the Boko Haram attack on
the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) base in Borno State, it has been revealed
that military ambulance made seven trips taking corpses to undisclosed
hospitals within Maiduguri.
Fighting had
erupted in the early hours of Monday at about 2.45 a.m between suspected
members of Boko Haram insurgents and troops when the gunmen attacked
the NAF base, also known as 79 Composite Group and burnt down three
military helicopters.
Although the media was denied entrance, when
the state governor, Kashim Shettima, visited the base, credible sources
told newsmen that the attack was the worst in recent times.
It
was also gathered that over 20 military men were killed at Pompomari
outpost, NAF headquarters gate, Staff Quarters outpost, 333 Artillery
regiment, 707/Airport while four innocent civilians on Kofa outskirts
were also shot dead by insurgents.
Sources also said there was an
intelligence report about the attack three days ago, when a member of
the Boko Haram sect was arrested in Maiduguri, but the report was not
taken with the required attention.
According to sources, the gunmen came in 23 Hilux vehicles to wreak havoc and left with many security vehicles.
“They went away with some security vehicles belonging to SSS at the 333 artillery,” one of the sources said.
Confirming
the incident in a report issued by the Director, Defence Information,
Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, the military stated that military
locations such as NAF base and some Nigerian Army locations in Maiduguri
were targeted during the attack.
According to him, 24 insurgents were killed, while two Air Force personnel were wounded during the exchange of fire.
He said three decommissioned military aircraft, as well as two helicopters were incapacitated in the course of the attack.
He stated that security forces were in pursuit of the terrorists in the Djemtillo general area, on the Maiduguri/Banishek axis.
The
defence spokesman disclosed that movements in Maiduguri and environs
had been restricted, while citizens were enjoined to report any of the
fleeing insurgents, most of whom could be identified with gunshot wounds
whenever they were sighted.
Reacting to the development, Borno
State government and the 7 Division of Nigerian Army have imposed a
24-hour curfew in Maiduguri, the state capital, following the attack.
A
statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Ambassador Ahmad
Jiddah, said the curfew took effect from 11.00 a.m. on Monday and
appealed to residents to remain calm until situation was brought under
control.
The statement added that vehicles on emergency calls and essential services would, however, be allowed during the period. It also said the curfew would be lifted as soon as the situation improves.
Meanwhile, normal flights operations to and from the Maiduguri Airport, which were earlier temporarily disrupted, has resumed.
However,
it was gathered from authoritative military sources that the
decommissioned aircraft were MIG 21 that had earlier been marked for
Nigerian Airforce museum in Abuja.
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