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It was another day of tragedy yesterday as members of the Boko Haram sect stormed a drinking joint in the Maiduguri metropolis killing no fewer than 30 people even as fears heightened in Bauchi over rumour of fresh attack.
A source who witnessed the act said that the members numbering about 10 had arrived at a popular drinking joint at Dala Kwamti around the Dala Alanderi area of the Borno State capital at about 6 pm in a convoy of two cars and started shooting sporadically.
Another source also claimed the men rode to the area on motorcycles from different direction, to beat the heavy security in the city.
“I don’t think they came in a convoy of cars as suggested. They might have ridden on motorcycles from different directions to beat the soldiers and police at a junction close to the area. They started firing shots from different directions into the joint and there were many people there at that time because it was not dark yet,” a resident of the area told Daily Sun on telephone.
It was also gathered that the Vice Chairman of Ngala Local Government, Alhaji Baba Kamfut and two others were shot and killed on Saturday night. Details of the killing of Kamfut were sketchy as at Press time, but sources said he was killed in his residence within the metropolis.
Unconfirmed report claimed the second victim was killed on Sunday while sympathisers were at the deceased local government boss house to condole with his family. Gunmen were said to have stormed the place again and shot two; one of whom died on Sunday, the source claimed.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the police as at Press time yielded no results. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abdullahi Lawal, could not be reached as his mobile line was unavailable.
Meanwhile, palpable fears yesterday gripped the residents of Bauchi metropolis over a rumour of fresh attack by Boko Haram. The fears were heightened as unconfirmed reports claimed yesterday that the group plans to attack parts of the Bauchi State capital.
Residents in Yelwa told Daily Sun that the Rafin Zurfi was one of the places slated for attack.
A resident, who opted for anonymity, said as a result of the news, the men in the area formed themselves into groups patrolling at night in order not to be taken unaware. Daily Sun learnt that the insecurity was believed to have been heightened by rumours that there had been a bomb explosion at Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.
It turned out that there was no bomb explosion in the volatile Tafawa Balewa council headquatres, but a fire, which gutted the treasury department.“Bauchi is one of the states where Boko Haram had a running battle with the law enforcement agencies.“Such onslaught had led to the killing of many of the Boko Haram members and policemen. For instance, on July 26, 2099, the group had an all-night attack on Dutse Tanshi police station. Several members of the sect and two policemen were killed.
“On September 7, 2010, the group stormed Federal Prison in Bauchi and freed about 700 of their detained members facing trial. Innocent people had also been killed when the group carried out a spate of bomb attacks at Mammy Market in the 33 Artillery Brigade headquatres, Bauchi.“The group has also threatened more attacks and Bauchi is one of the states the Boko Haram wants Sharia law to be implemented as conditions for peace.”
Many people were considering the option of leaving the state en masse as a result of the insecurity if the situation does not improve. A week ago, a student of the Bauchi State-owned Polytechnic, Abba Abdullahi, was murdered on campus, prompting the students to protest against insecurity. However, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Barua, said the police were investigating the murder and assured the public that it would ensure protection of lives and property of citizens.
Barau could, however, not be reached to react to the news of the plan to attack some places as at Press time.
“There is actually, a threat to security that is why we must all be vigilant and secure yourself and property. It is only God that can save us for now,” another resident who said he was among those patrolling all night in Yelwa said
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