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Nigerian troops repel Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri Nigerian troops repel Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri
(about 4 hours later)
Nigeria’s military has repelled a Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri, a day after the country’s new president vowed to strengthen the defences of the key north-eastern city that was the birthplace of the militant group. At least 11 people were killed when Nigeria’s military repelled a Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri, a day after the country’s new president vowed to strengthen the defences of the key north-eastern city that was the birthplace of the militant group.
The Islamists’ assault on the Borno state capital saw rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) fired into homes, witnesses and security sources said. It came after Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration, where he promised a new command and control centre to better coordinate the counter-insurgency effort in the region. The Islamists’ assault on the Borno state capital saw rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) fired into homes, said witnesses and security sources. It came after Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration, where he promised a new command-and-control centre to better coordinate the counter-insurgency effort in the region.
Shortly after midnight (2300 GMT Friday), residents in the Dala suburb south of the city woke to the sound of RPGs being fired in succession, said resident Modu Karumi, in an account supported by several others. Shortly after midnight on Friday, residents in the Dala suburb south of the city woke to the sound of RPGs being fired in succession, said resident Modu Karumi, in an account supported by several others.
Witnesses said hundreds of Islamist gunmen were trying to advance on the city, which is now home to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by unrest in other parts of Borno state.Witnesses said hundreds of Islamist gunmen were trying to advance on the city, which is now home to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by unrest in other parts of Borno state.
An AFP reporter who lives in the area said he heard what sounded like armoured personnel carriers deploying to the southern edge of Maiduguri to face the rebel advance. A military source said the shooting took place around the Damboa road near the small settlement of Mule, about six miles (10km) from Maiduguri, a city of 2 million people.
Dala resident Alhaji Bukar said he saw at least one RPG fall into a private home, but details on casualties were not immediately clear. “A rocket launcher from Boko Haram hit a house around the Bulumkutu area … and killed five people. Our boys also picked up six corpses in different locations,” local militia member Mohammed Bunu said, adding that the militants tried to cross trenches dug around the city.
Locals reported other residential homes being hit. The attack follows twin bomb blasts early on Friday in Tashan Alade, a remote Borno town, which killed at least seven people.
Three senior security sources in Maiduguri who were not authorised to speak publicly said the attack had been repelled. Thousands have been killed and about 1.5 million displaced during Boko Haram’s six-year insurgency to carve out a state adhering to strict Islamic law in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and top oil producer.
“All is under control. There is no cause for alarm,” one of those sources said. At the start of the year it controlled a swath of territory larger than Belgium in the north-east of the country. The group has since been pushed back with the help of offensives launched by troops from Chad and Niger while Cameroon has fought off militants along its borders.
The sound of RPGs and gunfire had also quietened, residents and an AFP reporter said. The United States and Britain said on Friday they were ready to increase military cooperation with Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram.
Experts doubt that Boko Haram currently has the capacity to seize Maiduguri, but a major attack inside the city could still be disastrous for civilians.Experts doubt that Boko Haram currently has the capacity to seize Maiduguri, but a major attack inside the city could still be disastrous for civilians.
The Islamist rebels have been flushed out of several Borno state towns they controlled in an offensive launched in February by Nigeria with backing from neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Related: How Nigeria turned a corner against Boko Haram
But there are signs of the militants regrouping, particularly in the remote parts of eastern Borno near the Cameroon border. And there are signs of the militants regrouping, particularly in the remote parts of eastern Borno, near the Cameroon border.
Buhari in his inaugural address on Friday vowed to intensify the fight against Boko Haram, notably by shifting operational command from the capital Abuja to Maiduguri.Buhari in his inaugural address on Friday vowed to intensify the fight against Boko Haram, notably by shifting operational command from the capital Abuja to Maiduguri.
The performance of Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, against the militants was heavily criticised, with the conflict killing more than 15,000 people since 2009 and forcing another 1.5 million from their homes.The performance of Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, against the militants was heavily criticised, with the conflict killing more than 15,000 people since 2009 and forcing another 1.5 million from their homes.
Buhari, a former army general, insists the uprising can be defeated and has placed the Boko Haram effort at the top of his administration’s agenda.Buhari, a former army general, insists the uprising can be defeated and has placed the Boko Haram effort at the top of his administration’s agenda.