Calm has returned to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, after hours of shelling, bombardments and shooting between soldiers and Boko Haram insurgents.
President Jonathan on arrival at Maiduguri International Airport on a surprise visit to the troops in the North East.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that through the combined force of soldiers and operatives of the local vigilante, called Civilian-JTF, hundreds of Boko Haram members were killed and a cache of ammunitions recovered.
Though the operatives of Civilian-JTF said they were still counting and recovering corpses, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that apart from those that died on the frontline, many civilians were reportedly killed by stray bullets and Air Force jet bombings.
In a suburb known as Abujantalakawa along Maiduguri – Biu highway, an old man and his daughter were reportedly hit and killed by an RPG shot by the terrorists.
About 7 persons were killed in a house near Moduganari Street where the Air Force jet fighting the Boko Haram terrorists dropped a bomb.
Many other persons were said to have been injured when another bomb was fired by the military jet near Giwa barracks.
Speaking on the attack, a top security officer in Maiduguri said “though the (Boko Haram) boys were daring, our troops and the Civilian-JTF put up a stiff resistance and left the hoodlums with a bitter experience today. Over 500 of the laid wasted out there. We have recovered several weapons and arms which they abandoned while fleeing”.
Already, residents of the Borno capital have begun to come out of their homes after staying indoors while the attack occurred.
Sunday’s attack is the second by the insurgents in one week as they continue their plot to take the Borno capital. The military had last Sunday foiled a similar plan by the group, who also attacked Konduga and Monguno.