Despite the state of emergency in three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, suspected members of the Islamic sect – Boko Haram, believed to have escaped from one of the detention camps, have unleashed terror on some parts of Maiduguri metropolis, killing four persons including a medical student of the University of Maiduguri.
The attack is coming less than 72 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan ordered the release of female suspects of the sect as a gesture of goodwill in the current carrot and stick approach adopted by the Federal Government in its campaign against insurgency in the North.
Eyewitnesses at the scene of one of the attacks said that a trader at Chesscon Area, identified as Mr Bitrus Koji Michika, who was a member of ECWA Church, Maiduguri, his son, and an almajiri who served as his house help, were killed in cold blood inside their shop by the gunmen.
One of the eyewitnesses said, “The gunmen who came in a Golf car called the almajiri boy to bring sachet water (pure water) for them. When he went in, one of the sons of Mr Bitrus came out and the gunmen asked him about his father. When the boy told the gunmen that his father was not around they pushed him into the shop where they met Mr Bitrus sitting on a chair and opened fire on him. They turned to his son and the almajiri and opened fire on them, killing the three on the spot.”
The Public Relations Officer of the State command – DSP Gideon Jibrin and Commissioner of Police, Yuguda Abdullahi could not be reached for their reactions as mobile phone services have been switched off in Maiduguri.
