Over 60 killed, scores injured as troops, Boko Haram clash

At least 60 people mostly suspected
members of dreaded Boko Haram insurgents
were feared dead in a clash between troops
of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army around
Kayamula village, just some few kilometres
drive from 21 Armoured Brigade (Giwa
Barracks) on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the
Borno state capital.



Already, troops of the 7 Division, Nigerian
Army on Thursday morning imposed a 24
hours curfew on the troubled city.
The imposition of the 24 hours curfew was
contained in a statement signed by Colonel
Tukur Gusau, the Deputy Director Army
Public Relations
Gusau said “In view of the recent
development within Maiduguri metropolis a
24 hour curfew is hearby imposed in the city.
This is done to protect lives and property of
innocent and law abiding people of
maiduguri”.
Sources said, the attack was launched by
suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists
who attempted to invade the city with heavy
weapons of mass destruction targeting
military formations including 21 Armoured
Brigade (Giwa Barracks) that came under
deadly attacks last year.
A student at the University of Maiduguri
(name withheld) for security reasons said,
many stray bullets entered hostels injuring of
two students.
Kayamula village of Konduga local
government area of the state is south and
about 20km drive from Maiduguri which has
suffered series of deadly attacks by terrorists
in the past. The village which is an agrarian
community with a lot of Cashew plantations
is a stone -throw to Giwa barracks.
Reliable sources revealed that, “35 members
of the terrorists including women suicide
bombers were killed by troops, while 27
residents near Kayamula and Alau Dam
villages were slaughtered by insurgents after
they were repelled and chased away by
troops”.
A resident, Mallam Abba Alau who
participated in the mass burial of the slain
residents by insurgents said, “we were able
to bury our 27 people who were slaughtered
by terrorists while fleeing but ran into our
community and wrecked havoc before
heading towards Sambisa Forest on
Wednesday night”.
Another source said, “no fewer than three
security operatives were killed, with others
injured when some women suicide bombers
who disguised as fleeing residents of Bale
village near Kayamula detonated their
explosives near troops during operation.
Also, another dependable source told our
Correspondent that the imposition of 24
hours curfew on Maiduguri and its environs
by troops on Thursday morning was to allow
security operatives trail and apprehend
scores of suicide bombers, mostly women
terrorists who sneaked into Maiduguri to
cause havoc on residents.
“The curfew was declared because during the
operation, many insurgents found at the
scene of the attack had Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs) tied to their bodies, and that
security agencies suspected that some of
them might have sneaked into Maiduguri city
and nobody wants to take chances”, the
source stated.