OPERATIVES of the Joint Task Force, made up of soldiers, on Monday went haywire in Maiduguri, Borno State, and killed 30 persons in reprisal for the attack on their patrol vehicle in the town.
Most of the victims, The PUNCH learnt, were civilians.
The soldiers were also said to have burnt at least 50 houses, shops and vehicles in the Gwange area of the town.
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Some of the victims were reportedly burnt inside their houses beyond recognition.
An Improvised Explosive Device believed to have been planted by member of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, hit the JTF vehicle in the early hours of Monday and killed the leader of the patrol team, an unnamed Lieutenant and injured other members of the patrol team.
The incident occurred along the popular Lagos Street in the Borno State capital town. Maiduguri is believed to be the base of Boko Haram
In retaliation, tens of soldiers were said to have stormed the street and shot indiscriminately at the residents and motorists on the busy road leading to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The PUNCH learnt on Tuesday that some of the dead victims were killed inside their houses while their corpses were set on fire by the angry soldiers.
About 50 vehicles parked along the street and in front of houses were also set ablaze.
Maiduguri witnessed a similar incident last Sunday when soldiers reportedly killed and indiscriminately set properties on fire to avenge the murder of two soldiers, one of them a Lt.Col.
Reports indicated that some members of Boko Haram died in the soldiers’ rage on Monday but no one could give a specific figure even as the area was cordoned off.
An eyewitness told journalists that more than 50 persons, including some suspected terrorists were killed, while hundreds of houses and shops belonging to residents of Gwange were razed down in the incident.
During a visit to the area at about 3pm, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, said the government would address the situation when the governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, who was on a foreign trip to India, Pakistan and Turkey returned home.
The Deputy Governor appealed to Boko Haram members to lay down their arms for peace to prevail. He added that anytime the sect struck, the innocent always bore the brunt of retaliatory attacks.
Confirming the incident, the JTF Spokesman, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, in a text message sent to journalists in Maiduguri said that members of the some Boko Haram sect detonated an IED on a Hilux Patrol vehicle of the JTF, injuring two soldiers aboard the vehicle.
Common sense is indeed not common.
Posted: at 9-10-2012 04:33 AM (11 years ago) | Hero
bimbohlah at 9-10-2012 08:31 AM (11 years ago) (m)
This is why Boko Haram has never and can never be stopped! It shows how intelligent the so called JTFs are. They ought to have been taught how to respond to cases like this. No one said there wouldn't be casualties amongst them. Key to a successful raid is being in control at all times! RIP to all civilians that lost their lives today (including the JTF members). May God help Nigeria.
Posted: at 9-10-2012 08:31 AM (11 years ago) | Newbie
ochekawu1 at 9-10-2012 11:39 AM (11 years ago) (m)
Am not in support of the killing of the civilians but to say the truth up to eighty percent of northern muslems are supporters of Boko haran either directly or indirectly....Boko haram members are riding on the co-operation they enjoy from the so-called innocent civilians..... Each time JTF strikes some persons will come out and tell us they have killed innocent people... if these people know who is innocent it then means that they know also who is the real Boko-haram members are, so my question is what are these people doing to stop the activities of the boko-haram members whom they know in-order to avoid the killing of their so-called innocent civilians by JTF. Are the northern moslems trying to tell us that the few persons who are members of boko-haram( as the want us to believe) are too powerful that the majority, (the supposed innocents) cannot stop them?...... From where do boko-haram launches attacks on JTF and others? from the 2nd heaven i suppose. The earlier northern moslems stop this hypocrisy and call their brothers to other the better for them because as long as the menace of boko-haram continues, the far north remains a war-zone where nobody's safety is guaranteed.
Posted: at 9-10-2012 11:39 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming
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