Maiduguri - The Borno government on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri metropolis following an attack by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in some parts of the state capital.
Alhaji Ahmed Jidda the Secretary to the State Government, announced the decision in a statement released to newsmen in Maiduguri.
The statement said that the curfew was imposed in consultation with the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.
“During the period of curfew, government pleads with all citizens to remain calm.
“Only vehicles on emergency calls and essential services are allowed to move while the curfew will be lifted as soon as situation improves, ‘’ it added.
“The imposition of the curfew is necessitated by an attack in Maiduguri by people suspected to be Boko Haram members in the early hours of today.”
The apparently large attack in a major urban centre will cast further doubt on military claims that the Islamist insurgents have been pushed into remote, more rural parts of the northeast.
The military on Saturday said they would tighten security in communities near Nigeria’s northern and eastern borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon due to fears about Boko Haram strikes over the Christmas and New Year period.
Army spokesman Ibrahim Attahiruon Monday said that one of the attacks struck near the city’s airport but he was not able to provide further details.
The phone network has been down in Borno state since mid-May, when a state of emergency was declared in the area.
The military said the shutdown would help block militants from coordinating attacks but with no working mobile phone service, details of the conflict in the area have been difficult to verify.
The latest violence began at around 3:00 am (0200 GMT) and included bomb and gun attacks,
Boko Haram was founded in Maiduguri more than 10 years ago and has attacked the city repeatedly.



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