Tag: Maiduguri
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Tension in Maiduguri over shooting of JTF member
Tension rose on Sunday in Maiduguri, Bornu State as members of the vigilate group known as civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) took to the streets protesting the shooting of their member by the military.
A soldier was alleged to have shot a tricycle driver who passed through the wrong route in one of their numerous check points in Maiduguri and this sparked anger among the tricycles riders who are mostly active members of the vigilante
“Since the fellow shot is believed to be a member of the civilian JTF, he called on his people who were outraged about the development and marched to the palace of the Shehu to report the matter, “said one of the soldiers.
It is not clear whether the Shehu granted audience but hundreds of civilain JTF boys were seen returning from the Palace when The Nation visited the place.
Many of them armed with sticks and cutlasses were seen challenging vehicles and keke napaps without green leaves on their winds screens to go get one if they wanted to continue as members.
Heavy tanks were seen parked around sensitive areas of the capital city like Barga road where several banks like Diamond, FCMB and Unity banks are located and the western avenue area of the town.
One of the managers of diamond Bank told The Nation on phone that there was no threat of arson by the angry JTF boys on their structures.”I think they brought the tank to forstall any escalation of tension to the rest of the capital which was observing a calm Sunday.”
Attempts by one of the reporters of the News Agency of Nigeria to cover the incident the crowd was met with stiff resistance by the civilian JTF members who broke his windscreen.
At Bolori junction, boys of the civilian JTF were seen burning tyres as at 2pm almost 5hours after the incident first occured around the western roundabout which was the main theatre of tension as at the time of writing this report.
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Photo: Olukolade visits Yola and Maiduguri
From Left: Detachment commander mi 35 helicopter, Air Cdre Remi Ekeh; commander, 75 strike group, Nigerian Air Force Yola, Air Cdre Emma Anebi and director of defence information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade during the visit of the director to Yola and Maiduguri on Thursday -
Boko Haram: JAMB assures candidates of safety in Maiduguri
THE Zonal Coordinator of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board in Borno State, Alhaji Ahmed Ali, has assured the candidates for today’s University Matriculation Exams UME of adequate security. He said that prospective candidates and their parents should not harbor any fear, promising that no student would be attacked while writing the examination. Alhaji Ali revealed that inspite of the vulnerable nature of Barma town, a distance of less than 100km from Maiduguri, soldiers were going to surround the exam halls at the College of Education COE, where the exam will be held. Other centres where the university entrance examinations will be held outside Maiduguri are Biu, Damaturu and Gasua. Ahmed said that the agency was fully prepared for the exercise, especially for those candidates who would be coming from faraway places like Pulka and surrounding villages of Barma Local Government Area. He, however, expressed regrets that many of the candidates in the area were not willing to be tested through the computer-based tests (CBT system). Meanwhile, candidates in scattered centers in Maiduguri have been moved to the University of Maiduguri to write the CBT, DBT and PPT, but maintained that the zonal office would be fully computerized by 2015.
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El-Kanemi vow to devour Abia Warriors
El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri have vowed to defeat their opponents, Abia Warriors in their re-arranged Glo Premier League Week Two tie in Kano today.
The Maiduguri based side were told to find an alternative home ground away from their volatile capital and they chose Kano for their home games this season.
Abia Warriors are the first club to visit Kano to face El Kanemi and the club’s duo of Bamai Bukar and Abraham Audu have promised their fans of a winning start at their adoptive home.
Bukar said: “We are not going to win alone but we also want to win well to show that Abia Warriors are no match for us. We know what to expect from them because we have watched their pre season and recent matches. We are going to work on their strength and weaknesses.”
The visionary midfielder nonetheless called on Kano fans to come all out to cheer them to victory.
The same feeling was also shared by Abraham Audu who disclosed that El Kanemi would be out to prove a point against Abia Warriors.
Meanwhile, El Kanemi Warriors’ chairman, Zannah Mala Kakaje has disclosed that he would be expecting a good response from his boys as a way of telling the LMC that they accept the opportunity to play in Kano.
But the chairman, however, noted that he is still pained at several of the team’s supporters that won’t be available for the match.
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Kwara evacuates students from Maiduguri
Kwara State Commissioner for Information Tunji Moronfoye said yesterday the government would evacuate its indigenes from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said a delegation left Ilorin for Maiduguri yesterday morning.
The evacuation followed a save-our-soul message by Kwara students in the university.
Moronfoye said the delegation was provided with logistics to enable it evacuate the students.
The delegation and the students will arrive in Ilorin from today.
The students, it was learnt, sent text messages to government officials, fearing for their safety, following massive attacks on Maiduguri last weekend.
One of the text messages reads: “Maiduguri is under attack. We had 15 explosions this morning. We are picking bullets in the hostel. Please, we need your help. We need to be evacuated.
“We, Kwara State students, are waiting for the rescue team. Please, help do all you can to save our lives.”
The commissioner said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety and well being of its people.
He said the government would implement such policies, without recourse to political affiliation.
The commissioner added: “The people of Kwara voted us into power, so we have responsibility to ensure their well being.”
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Kwara evacuates students from Maiduguri
Kwara State Commissioner for Information Tunji Moronfoye said yesterday the government would evacuate its indigenes from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said a delegation left Ilorin for Maiduguri yesterday morning.
The evacuation followed a save-our-soul message by Kwara students in the university.
Moronfoye said the delegation was provided with logistics to enable it evacuate the students.
The delegation and the students will arrive in Ilorin from today.
The students, it was learnt, sent text messages to government officials, fearing for their safety, following massive attacks on Maiduguri last weekend.
One of the text messages reads: “Maiduguri is under attack. We had 15 explosions this morning. We are picking bullets in the hostel. Please, we need your help. We need to be evacuated.
“We, Kwara State students, are waiting for the rescue team. Please, help do all you can to save our lives.”
The commissioner said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety and well being of its people.
He said the government would implement such policies, without recourse to political affiliation.
The commissioner added: “The people of Kwara voted us into power, so we have responsibility to ensure their well being.”
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LMC suspends NPFL matches in Maiduguri
Nigeria Professional Football League [NPFL] matches billed to hold at the El-Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri has been “suspended.”
The League Management Company [LMC] Limited announced the suspension of all Premier League matches in the troubled northeastern city of Nigeria on Friday via its official Twitter handle.
The suspension of matches in Maiduguri will start with the game between El-Kanemi Warriors and league leaders, Abia Warriors, scheduled among match day 2 fixtures.
The LMC Limited has advised all clubs participating in the Nigerian premier division to “await further directive” on the new home ground for El-Kanemi Warriors.
“El-Kanemi Warriors vs Abia Warriors’ Week 2 match put on hold. All NPFL league matches scheduled for Maiduguri suspended. All Glo Premier League teams have been advised to await further directive,” stated the management company.
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Update: Military repels Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri
Five sect members arrested, female student of University of Maiduguri shot.
Two hours after the first triple assault on Giwa barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State capital by suspected insurgents, gun shots are still being heard from a distance from the GRA police station.
Fighter planes of the Nigerian air force which responded with record speed according to one security personnel seem to be dropping bombs in a staccato manner returning back to base after the operation.
The varying sounds indicate different types of weapons used by both soldiers and insurgents said residents of the state hotel who have witnessed such encounters in recently.
Meanwhile five members of the sect have been caught close to the University of Maiduguri where they have been said to have stormed the town very close to the University simultaneously.
Students living around Barma road said a stray bullet hit a female student who was going to school about the same time when the others stormed the town from the University side.
Although no death figure has been confirmed by the University, a mass communications student Mayum Etim told The Nation on phone that ” It was correct that the insurgents stormed an area close to our school but they did not enter the campus. ”
” A female student was said to have received bullet wounds on her shoulder just above her breast but she has gone for treatment to stop the bleeding at the teaching hospital where services were still on going since they have soldiers keeping on guard.
“They did not enter our campus. It is however deserted by students who took off for their lives when the shots started booming opposite the campus. Soldiers have completely cordoned the place and the usual 7th division trucks are patrolling our streets from the Konjuga end of the University to Customs area which has porous areas where they dared to enter having being repelled from the Giwa barracks axis.
“The civilian JTF guys are doing a great job as they have been fishing out the determined insurgents who are bent on destabilizing the town. As a matter of fact, they have just caught five fleeing members of the sect near our home outside the Campos. They have been handed over to the men of the 7th division.
Meanwhile the daring seige on Maiduguri from about three fronts of the town continues. Fire Service vehicles were seen being escorted by soldiers to an unknown destination to put off fire on buildings that may have been set on fire by the insurgents from the Giwa barracks end of the town.
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Gunmen storm barrack in Maiduguri
Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members have reportedly attacked the Giwa Barracks, one of the strategic military barracks in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri at about 7.30am on Friday.
Their attack is believed to be a retaliation for the current pounding of the base of the insurgents in Sambisa, Barga and several others hidden in the savannah north and central parts of the state.
While residents in Maiduguri were preparing to go about their duties, they were greeted with heavy bullet sounds from the Giwa Barracks end of the town which is not very far from the State Government House and polo area.
Heavy shooting was still been heard at the time of this report while several soldiers living around the State hotel were seen dressing up with their bullet proof vests and jumping into their trucks to repel the assault which is believed to have started from a village close to the barracks.
