KABUL: (MEP) Boko Haram Islamic extremists attacked a key city in northeast Nigeria on Sunday evening, residents told AFP, the second assault in days as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s deadline to eradicate the militants is set to expire.
The militants attacked Jiddari Polo, an area located on the outskirts of Borno State’s capital, Maiduguri, at around 6:30 pm (1730 GMT), shooting guns and unleashing explosives.
“We had just finished evening prayer in the mosque when we began to hear the barrages of artillery fire and sound of gunfire,” said local Shehu Mala.
“All the residents in the area fled their homes to other parts of the city.”
Militants firing indiscriminately from the back of three trucks attacked the outlying village of Duwari, soldiers engaged them, and as people were fleeing, a woman ran into a suburb yelling “Boko Haram, Boko Haram”. When people gathered, she detonated herself, according to village head Bulama Isa.
As the chaos reigned and a rocket-propelled grenade exploded, setting alight grass-thatched huts, a second woman blew herself up, according to Isa. The village chief, 10 of his children and others were killed, according to residents Ahmed Bala and Umar Ibrahim.
The death toll from the attacks is expected to rise.
Nigeria’s military responded with artillery fire, forcing the attackers to retreat.
Boko Haram fighters have made several attempts to retake Maiduguri —- the birthplace of the jihadist movement -— since they were pushed out three years ago.
On Christmas day, Boko Haram militants also killed at least 14 people after storming Kimba village in Borno.
