Calm in Maiduguri after military repels Boko Haram attack

 FILE PHOTO: Bama has been left devastated by Boko Haram attacks
                                         Photo: AFP
Calm has returned to Maiduguri in Borno, after the military repelled an attack on Wednesday by suspected members of Boko Haram, NAN reports.

Residents told NAN in Maiduguri that the insurgents had launched the attacks around 5 pm in Kayamla, a village at the outskirts of the city.

“The insurgents came through a plantation in Kayamla around 5:00 pm on Wednesday, but the military appeared to have a prio knowledge of the attack, as the insurgents were cleared immediately,” Mallam Adam Asheikh, a resident said.

Asheikh said that the military had stationed some troops in the area to keep vigil.

“The area is a gate way to the Allao dam and Sambisa forest, so the military decided to station some troops in the place lately.

“The invaiders met their waterloo as they tried to launch the attack, they fell to the superior power of the military,” he said.

Mallam Ibrahim Yushau, another resident corroborated Asheikh claim.

“We were preparing for the evening prayers when we began to hear loud noise like thunder, so we ran home.

“We later discovered that it was the military using their new equipment to repel Boko Haram,” Yusahau said.

He added: “The attackers were killed in large numbers as their corpses littered the area.”

A military officer who spoke on condition of anonimity confirmed the report.

“I can tell you authoritatively that the military cleared all the insurgents on Wednesday night.

“It may interest you to know that they came in convoy of cars and motorbikes to launch the attack, but none of them survived,” he said.

He added: “The soldiers cleared them all, although they were not as many as they used to be in the past.

“I think they are in the range of between 50 and 100 militants and all of them were cleared.”

Col. Tukur Gussau, the spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army Maiduguri, niether deny nor confirm the report.

He however said that the 24-hour curfew imposed by the military on the city was still in force, adding that it was to to allow the military carry out mop up operation