Blast kills 7 soldiers in Maiduguri
on JULY 7, 2011 · in NEWS

By NDAHI MARAMA & SUSAN EDEH
MAIDUGURI— MEMBERS of Boko Haram, yesterday, exploded a bomb on one of the patrol teams of the Joint Military Task Force on Operation Restore Order in the new prison area in Maiduguri in the process killing seven soldiers.

Commander of the Task Force, Maj.- Gen. Jack Nwaogbo, who confirmed the explosion said: “One of our patrol teams was targeted this morning by hoodlums around new prison, Maiduguri. Seven soldiers were killed.’’



Nwaogbo who added that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident, said: “We have arrested one of the perpetrators. My men are in the process of cordoning off the entire area as part of the initiatives to contain activities of the hoodlums.”

The commander said the bombers came on a motorcycle, threw the bomb on the patrol vehicle and fled through Budum road, adding that the entire Abbaganaram, Budum, Lawan Bukar, Galadima junction and Shehuri, and all the major streets leading to these areas will be blocked until the suspects had been arrested.

Some newsmen who tried to visit the scene of the blast were turned back by fierce looking soldiers who said: “My friend we don’t want to see any ID card, just turn back.”

A resident of Abbaganaram told Vanguard: “We couldn’t move out of our houses as people were running in all directions. When I enquired what happened nobody could explain, so we rushed in and locked our gates.”

The sect members were also said to have come through Bulabulin, shot sporadically in the air at the Customs area after the bomb blast to scare the people.

Traders at the Custom market abandoned their wares and fled the market because of fear of attack by Boko Haram members and intimidation by security operatives.

Revenge attack in Bauchi

Meanwhile in what could be described as a revenge mission after the police engaged members of the sect in a gun battle at Unguwan Kaura in Jahun ward of Bauchi State, Boko Haram members, yesterday, invaded Toro Divisional Police Station, sacked police men on duty before ransacking the station’s armour.

Vanguard gathered from an eye witness that the gunmen numbering about five stormed the station at about 8 pm and shot sporadically into the air to scare away people.

The gun men were said to have met an empty police station, as all the policemen on duty had run away leaving behind their arms and other belongings.

No casualty was, however, recorded during the operation.

Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Barau told Vanguard on enquiry: “no comment.”

saintneo:


BHT is now at war with Nigeria, the solution is to declare war with tem as well. The same measures applied at Odi, Bayelsa State should be implemented in Borno State.

haka_nai:

^^^^ while you make such assumptions to the solutions,cast your mind back to the attack and the effect of such on the ND and the response from the international community.Lastly did it solve the situation in the ND?No it made it worse and people galvanized and fought the state.If you live in Naija,you should know brute force has never and would never solve any problem.It only makes it worst.Just like the initial clamp down on the boko haram sect and there violent return.

saintneo:

@haka nai, I appreciate your comments, it gives more insight to the matter. However, we cannot fold our hands and watch as BH declare war on the FG and all its employees based on religious sentiments. Also, I believe you are aware of other terror groups in places like somalia. With kind of power that the Somali terrorist group have in their nation and the kind of mayhem they have unleashed on the people, do not you think that it is high time all these diaper-changing method is stopped and proper military tactics employed.

If BH militants is fighting for something political, then they should come to the table just like the ND militants did. They tabled their grievances and a solution was proffered which is partially working at least. However, the demand of the BH on the total "Islamaisation/Sharialisation" of Nigeria irrespective of our religious beliefs of other citizens is very appalling; it is tantamount to declaring of a parallel government as against the secular government being run.

BH should be quashed as soon as possible to avoid its spread, negotiation seems not to be an option anymore.


While you ponder on my comments, I would like you to view these pictures.

haka_nai:


Personally you are right for us to desire security and enjoy its benefits.All countries that enjoy same has caused them money ,patriotism and commitments.
Nigeria rarely has any external treats and its not today that our security problems have being identified.While FG spends money for the security and the papers full of facts stare them in the face.The top men and women of such establishments continue to steal the funds because the treats are yet to come.
Do you that in Bornu state we used to have cross boundary raids by nomadic tribes from starving Chadian and Nigerien rebels!Last I know they said they would fit the police with the ability to form a Calvary crack squad that could move in the deserts to keep them clear.Where are dey?
The same police use to have a marine division and well position force in the marine.Today where are dey?
Until the Boko haram,the Chadian and Nigerien borders were largely free.Until MEND our coastal waters were so free and open you could come in and out. Our security establishment knew not today that it is needed to ensure internal stability.Today custom are charged and ready to search for arms.Why now?Do you think that it started today.
They only responds if it affects them or they feel like acting and the have no power then you see them checking there inventory to realize all is grounded and not working.Yet monies were allocated to them.The corruption in the forces is simple.Lets exploit areas we get budgets for and have no present treats.Pocket such funds and claim it was utilized.
Left for me EFCC should start probing the army ,Navy,SSS,NIA,police and others.Check there records and evaluate there spending.You will be amazed at the huge corruption in the forces.How does a 30,000 naira earner afford to build a house in his village and afford a car.After feeding his family?Don't get me wrong the money paid them is small but compared to there expenses you could sense foul play.It maybe small but no reason to extort or divert monies made for other things.
Our recruitment into the armed forces is full of bias and devoid of best stand.That is why the senior officers can not task the security and get results.Simply because the wrong bunch are all over.The main man has to come down directly to supervise.Ordinary you don't need to.Why? if such can't function then why keep him or her on your payroll.It is a service.If a commissioner fails then he got to go.Not transfer him and assign a new guy.For junior officers that maybe the case but not senior officers.Why will one commissioner be able to stop it another fail to?
The whole security apparatus is a mess.Plain and simple.Re-organizing it would take a long time.Meanwhile playing gentle with criminals is the fast fix.Until security becomes proactive,intelligent,equipped and of service to the people of Nigeria (even a criminal).The simplest security standard could have nipped both militancy and extremism in the bud.Why?Thats because possibly the sect leader wouldn't have begin killed in such manner and today will be in court fighting the over incriminating allegations against him enough to jail or hang him and put things straight for his followers.Militancy would have been averted, if the Government understood and kept abreast with the peoples demand and wishes.Rather than the elite.Only as a last option do they pick extremist and trouble makers,who would obviously have being fewer.
My solution make peace while you fix relationship between government and the governed.Also while you salvage and upgrade the security establishment.Competent hands only.Training and exams (even if na JAMB) to rate standards and those far below, retired to give room for new improved security experts or Nigerians with the will to act,