March 14 in retrospect

Friday, March 14, 2014, was indeed a scary and sad day in Borno State as Boko Haram insurgents carried out a daring daylight raid on the capital city, Maiduguri. On this day, Boko Haram invaded and attacked the Giwa Military Barracks where they freed their members from detention. The sounds of their guns and rocket […]

Friday, March 14, 2014, was indeed a scary and sad day in Borno State as Boko Haram insurgents carried out a daring daylight raid on the capital city, Maiduguri.

On this day, Boko Haram invaded and attacked the Giwa Military Barracks where they freed their members from detention.

The sounds of their guns and rocket propelled guns reverberated all over Maiduguri waking residents to a terrifying day.

However, their penetration of the barracks was repelled after a gun duel that lasted  for several hours.

In fact, it was only when the air force deployed its fighter jets that the terrorists retreated and left the town.

The attack is one of the boldest and darest in the history of the insurgency in the North East. This is because  in the years of the insurgency, the Boko Haram staged prison raids, but never attacked any military barracks.

The day would never be forgotten by the residents of Maiduguri.

Mohammad A. Jibirn is a public affairs analyst  [email protected]