My experience of December 2 attack in Maiduguri

I live in Bulumkutu Ngomari ward, popularly called “Ngomari old Airport”. The name “old airport” came up when the popular Bulumkutu ward was extended to First Maiduguri Airport, now converted to Air Force Base. Being a military zone, it is heavily protected especially when the insurgency started in 2009. It is believed the base is […]

I live in Bulumkutu Ngomari ward, popularly called “Ngomari old Airport”. The name “old airport” came up when the popular Bulumkutu ward was extended to First Maiduguri Airport, now converted to Air Force Base. Being a military zone, it is heavily protected especially when the insurgency started in 2009. It is believed the base is used for launching air attacks in the current war against the insurgents. My house is just a few metres away from the Air Force Base – the main target of the militants during the Monday attack. That day, all fears descended on me, my family and many residences around Ngomari Old Airport.
The fearful day started on Monday morning around 3:20 am. My wife woke me up to inform me of gunshots coming from a distance. She believed it might be an attack by the militant group, popularly called “Boko Haram”. At first I was a little relaxed, believing that it was the military men that were firing some warning shots or it was an attack that could be easily handled by the military. My confidence was based on the heavy military presence from where the gunshots were coming from, which included the 33 Battalion Barracks.
Before the incident, Maiduguri city had been enjoying peace.
But the shootings continued and, this time around, with some explosions going off and dogs barking angrily. What I thought was far away got closer and closer. I therefore, told my wife to get the children and put them in a safer room. It was at that moment that the ultimate explosion shook the whole house. I rushed to my family and together we started praying. We could clearly hear the militants shouting Allahu Akbar, while gunshots rent our street. The explosions continued to a point I feared we had been caught in the middle of a crossfire.  All members of my family were awake and my first daughter started screaming “daddy, daddy,” while my wife tried to comfort her and the other children. You could clearly see the fear on her face as the house vibrated at every bomb blast.
Two hours into the attack, I heard the sound of a fighter jet circling in the air and that gave me a feeling that the jet was searching for a target to shoot. It was at that moment I realized that the militants were firing at the jet too, because we kept seeing lights trailing skywards flying bullets whenever the jet appeared.
As the war continued to rage, with dark smoke rising high from the direction of Air Force Base, I heard some voices across the street not far from my window and I decided to peep through the curtains. That was when I saw the militants for the first time. About 15 of them were carrying heavy weapons and ammunitions wrapped round their waist. It was difficult to see their faces because it was still dark, but I could hear them talking to each other. They were dressed in dark attires and wearing turbans on their head. I saw two of them smoking and quickly called my wife to show her. She was really scared and asked me to move away from the window. They waited for about 10 minutes before dispersing, probably taking positions. I could not see them, but I knew they were very close.
While all this was playing out, my heart was beating fast and fear was rushing through my nerves as though ice-cold water was poured on my body. I tried to hide my fears from my family who were looking upon me for protection.
The longest night of my life continued with non-stop gunshots and bomb explosions. I tried to perform ablution for the morning prayers around 5am, but the fear of what I witnessed stopped me. About 30 minutes later, I summoned the courage and observed my prayers and asked Almighty Allah for protection once more.  Around 7am I looked through the window and saw the last group of the insurgents retreating and carrying their wounded members.
The sky was filled with dark smoke from burning buildings and vehicles, blocking the rising sun which and making the day a little darker than the usual seven o’clock daylight.
Finally, after about 30 minutes, we heard the voices of people coming out of their homes. I felt relieved and thanked God for keeping us alive. I looked at my family and the first smile came from my wife.
Geidam wrote this piece from Maiduguri