Governor of Borno State, Dr. Ali Modu Sheriff

By Michael Olugbode

Bomb blasts and sporadic gunshots were heard in parts of troubled Maiduguri Friday forcing many residents to scamper into the safety of their homes.

Many residents, who had thought the sanctity of the holy month of Ramadan, would bring relative peace to the troubled ancient town of Maiduguri which had been under the siege of Boko Haram for about two years now were proved wrong as the explosions made many flee the streets back to their homes.

This left most of the major roads in the town during the peak working hours deserted with people afraid of being caught up in the bomb blasts and gunshots, which no one knew the direction they were coming from.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa in a press statement said: "A JTF patrol vehicle was attacked at about 1300 hrs today (Friday)  in Shehuri general area by suspected Boko Haram terrorists and the attack was resisted."

He added: "The incident led to the killing of two Boko Haram terrorists, two JTF personnel were wounded and are stable and are responding to treatment at UMTH.

"Twenty-five suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the episode."

Speaking further he said: "Similarly, an improvised explosive device was detected by our troops and detonated by the bomb disposal unit of the task force."

He said this incident "occurred at Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri metropolis today (Friday) at about 1130 hrs."

In a similar development, THISDAY learnt that a number of persons were killed between Thursday night and Friday morning in parts of the troubled town.

Sources said that seven individuals were killed at their residences by unknown gunmen at Gwange, Ajilari, Bulumkutu and Gomari; two persons were killed at Gwange, three persons at Ajilari and one person each at Bulumkutu and Gomari.

Heavy presence of soldiers was witnessed at the notorious Abbaganaram junction leading to the Maiduguri Railway Terminus where the Boko Haram sect used to have their headquarters before the 2009 clampdown.

Vehicles were turned back from the axis by stern looking soldiers leaving residents of the area with no other choice other than looking for alternative routes home.