Maiduguri, 11.14.2010

A soldier, Bashir Mohammed, was at the weekend shot dead by two unknown gunmen, believed to be members of the fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, riding on a motorcycle in Maiduguri, Borno State.Also shot was his friend who had gone with him to a local restaurant to have lunch.


The soldier, it was learnt, was attached to 231 battalion of the Nigerian Army, located in Biu.According to a witness, the soldier came with another man to eat in a canteen in the area when two armed men riding on motorcycle shot and killed him.


“It was around 2:30pm on Saturday while I was lying down on a mat together with my friends. Then we saw two men on motorcycle and the one at the back brought out a gun and opened fire on the soldier and his friend,” he said.He disclosed that the friend was shot in the leg while the soldier died on the spot.


THISDAY gathered that the soldier’s injured friend was rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) by residents and the soldier’s body was deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.Other witnesses revealed that the gunmen immediately sped off after the killing as the residents watched in bewilderment.


The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the report.Abdullahi also said that no arrests had been made yet, adding that investigation on the matter was ongoing.


When THISDAY visited the scene of the murder at Zannari area of Maiduguri, blood stains and several used pellets were noticed at the scene.


When the newspaper called the Public Relations Officer of 21st Armoured Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Maiduguri, Lt. Abubakar Abdullahi, he confirmed that the slain officer was a private at the Brigade in Biu.


He said the deceased was in town on medical check-up before he met his death. Unknown gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect had for some time now been killing policemen and civilians in Borno State.


This prompted the deployment of joint military patrol in the state to clamp down on the suspected fundamentalists.
Also, in Port Harcourt, gunmen burst into a burial vigil outside the city, firing shots and kidnapped four people, police spokesman Akin Fakorede said yesterday.


"The incident occurred at 01:00 am on Saturday in Ihuaba community (outside Port Harcourt, capital of southern Rivers State) during a vigil for a burial. The gunmen shot sporadically and made away with four men," he said."Police have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers," he added.


Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has stepped up its raid on militant camps in the Niger Delta following the resurgence of insurgency in the oil-producing region, THISDAY has learnt.


In what appears to be a clandestine operation, the military has in the past weeks located and destroyed tens of such camps.
Militants have recently struck at Agip and Afren oil facilities in the region, a year after amnesty was embraced by most of them.
Top military officers are said to be blank about the new operations, which are said to be under the purview of Defence Headquarters.


THISDAY learnt that the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu and other military top brass had a meeting at Uyo and Abak in Akwa Ibom State last week.
Prior to that, the army chief, Major Gen. Azubike Ihejirika, was in Abia State on an undisclosed mission, but there was no leakage of the impending operation.


Nonetheless, the development came to light a day after the Joint (Military) Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta launched aerial attacks on militants camp at Furopa in Southern Ijaw Local Government area.


Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, had cautioned armed gangs in the region, saying the military would not tolerate their criminal acts, including kidnapping and brigandage, and would clear out their camps.
JTF, acting on a tip off, had on Friday raided the camp of Keiti Sese aka Commander Nomukeme (“mad man”).
The locations of the other camps liquidated are yet to be made known officially. Military spokespersons in the region are keeping sealed lips over the development.


Indeed, several calls made to the JTF spokesperson, Col. Timothy Antigha, were not answered. Although the JTF commander in Bayelsa State said the decision to bombard Furopa was taken last week, Petirin said it all started penultimate week.
A source close to the militants told THISDAY that “they combed some areas. But they cannot comb the creeks forever. Some day they will have to give up”.


He said apprehension within the ranks of the militants was still high as “they don’t know the next target of the military”.
Petirin had said he observed "with concern some criminal acts within the past few days by some people claiming to be militants. We are all aware of the kidnappings, illegal boarding of oil rigs and other acts of brigandage that have been committed by these criminals, These people are criminals and will be treated as such”.


A clearance given by the JTF in Bayelsa Saturday revealed that its 10-minute aerial bombardment in Furopa uncovered some useful information that is being studied.


Militants loyal to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) last Friday claimed to have clashed with soldiers at Shallow water Okoro oil field in Akwa Ibom State.


According to the movement, it took hostage seven expatriates, namely: James Robert (USA), Jeffrey James (USA), Patrick Weber (France) and Mignon Gilles ( France). The rest were Robert Croke (Canada), Robert Tampubolon (Indonesia) and Permana Nugraha, also from Indonesia.

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what is happening in this our country? we need God's intervention or don't you think so?

The solution is in our hands,the military ar just wasting time,peace means is d solution,federal gvt shd honour d agreement made to them,when they acused d federal of abadoning them,nobody say anytin,but now they ar speaking the language dat everybody understand;yar'adua die with amnesty or what?where is clark?

Something has to be done to these people. I suggest we drop a bomb on the North; annihilate them all, including Blazay, alj hem, hak nai and their fellow illiterate goro chewing Abokis. Otherwise, who knows what they are going to do next.