Barely 48 hours after Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari commended the military fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the Nigeria’s northeast against the dreaded Boko Haram militants, two suicide bombers suspected to be members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram detonated IEDs strapped to their bodies at a major cattle market(Kasuwan Shanu) in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
Buyers and traders in the Market said, many were feared killed in the attack as security operatives detailed to the area has cordoned the market while evacuation of bodies is also said to be ongoing.
Malam Usmana Kundi, a butcher at the Market said, the suicide attack around 8:00 am today, shows that, many of the Boko Haram may have succeeded in crossing over from the Sambisa Forest to the city, even as their activities have continued to grow wild again in the suburb of Maiduguri.
He said, the reduction in the movement of vehicles along Maiduguri, Biu road, which is also being accompany by military vehicles for the safety of passengers is an indication that, the Boko Haram militants are still very strong even after being displaced by the military from the Sambisa Forest.
Another resident of Maiduguri, Mohammed Kolomi said, “We were informed by the President on Saturday that, the Boko Haram has been defeated and that they are on the run after being displaced from the Sambisa Forest, but our fear still is that, the Boko Haram may have been technically displaced, but their activities show that, they are still very strong and can pull surprises just like the attack this morning at “Kasuwan Shanu.”
It could be recalled that, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari said, on Saturday that, “I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the Boko Haram Camp in Sambisa fell at about 1:35pm on Friday, December 22, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide. I urge you to maintain the tempo by pursuing them and bringing them to justice.”
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