Update: Three soldiers, 6 vigilantes, many militants killed as army imposes 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army  has declared a 24- hour curfew on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, hours after hundreds of Boko Haram insurgents launched what seemed a surprise attack in the town. A statement by Colonel Tukur Gusau, a deputy director, army public relations  said residents should remain indoors as troops continue to ensure their safety.  “In […]

The Nigerian Army  has declared a 24- hour curfew on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, hours after hundreds of Boko Haram insurgents launched what seemed a surprise attack in the town.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to once again thank you for your continuous support and cooperation. The situation is  firmly under control,” the statement said.

Our correspondent reports that Maiduguri is now very quite as movements have been restricted.

All the streets are empty while shops, motor parks, markets, malls, schools, federal and state secretariats and and other public places are all closed.

Similarly, details  of the attack, including locations affected and number of casualties are gradually coming to the fore.

Sources said the assailants, armed with various weapons had made attempts to overrun the 21 armoured brigade which was attacked on 14th March, 2014.

Our correspondent gathered from credible sources that “dozens” of insurgents, three soldiers, six vigilantes and some civilians lost their lives during the ensuing fight on Wednesday evening.

“The six vigilantes were killed by female suicide bombers who pretended to be in distress while the fight was ongoing between troops and the terrorists,” a senior official  of the civilian JTF, who spoke in confidence, said.

“The three women were all suicide bombers because they strapped their bodies with explosives and pretended that they were trapped in the ensuing confusion. And out of sympathy, our members approached them with a view to taking them  to safety but sadly, they (women) detonated their explosives,” he said.

The vigilante added that about 12 of their members sustained various degrees of injuries.

He said on the other hand, three soldiers died during a fight with the insurgents but did not give more details.

“The good news is that dozens of the terrorists have been killed while they were advancing towards the Giwa Barracks from Kayamla village and a plantation near Fouri,” he said.

A senior security officer confirmed that three soldiers died in the fight yesterday and added that it was a bad day for the insurgents. 

“The terrorists did not succeed in getting into the Barracks and many of them have been killed,” he said.