Monday as troops, backed by fighter jets, launched a
major offensive to recapture the city from militant
islamist sect, Boko Haram.
"The operation resumed on Monguno this (Monday)
morning through air bombardment to dislodge the
insurgents," a Defence Headquarters source told
Reuters news agency.
The source made this known as the death toll from the
foiled bid by the sect to capture Maiduguri is believed
to have risen from 65 to 100.
The sect had launched simultaneous attacks on
Maiduguri, Monguno, Kodunga and Gubio on Sunday.
While its fighters were repelled in Maiduguri, Gubio
and Kodunga, they overran Monguno after soldiers
who engaged them in gun battle retreated.
A military barracks in the city was seized and the
Brigade commander wounded by the insurgents.
The Defence Headquarters, in one of its tweets on
Monday, said the troops inflicted more casualties on
fleeing insurgents while military locations in Maiduguri
and Konduga were reinforced.
It further stated that the troops captured a large
number of heavy military hardware from the
insurgents.
The tweet read, "Our forces recorded some casualties.
Meanwhile, ground troops are in charge and Air Force
patrol on going at Maiduguri and Konduga.
"Substantial amount of heavy weapons have been
captured as more terrorists died in the fight which
lasted till early Monday morning."
5,000 flee to Maiduguri
The National Emergency Management Agency
Information Officer in the North-East, AbdulKadir
Ibrahim, told The PUNCH, that 5,000 persons that fled
the captured town had been registered in Maiduguri.
He said that the Borno State Government provided an
almost completed housing estate for the IDPs.
Ibrahim explained that 2,000 of them arrived the state
capital on Sunday and 3,000 on Monday.
He said, "We are expecting more people; we have put
the needed materials for them to settle well in the
camp."
Reuters also reported that majority of those killed in
the Maiduguri fighting were Boko Haram members.
It said that a Maiduguri-based journalist, Bello Dukku,
who visited a mortuary in the city counted 100 bodies,
including 15 soldiers.
According to Dukku, 50 people injured in the
fighting.
Meanwhile, the curfew imposed on Maiduguri after
the Sunday attack has been lifted.
A spokesman for the Army in the state, Col. Sani
Usman, said, "The curfew has been lifted. People can
go about their legitimate business."
The state Governor, Kashim Shettima, had earlier on
Monday explained to the residents of the city that the
curfew was imposed "to enable security personnel to
carry out their operations."
He said, "I call on the people of Borno State not to
panic. This is our land. No fear, no flight, no retreat.
We should not flee. We have a history dating back
1,000 years and I swear by Allah, we are going to
subdue them (Boko Haram)."
The governor, who also described the attack on
Monguno as bad, said, " I will not lie to you. People are
trooping to Maiduguri. They are being protected by
the military outside the city.
"There is a need for screening before they are allowed
in."
Meanwhile, an A online news medium, TheCable, said
in its report on Monday that the insurgents attacked
Michika, in Adamawa State, "killing people and burning
houses".
It quoted a a source as having said that the terrorists
arrived in the town at about 2pm on Monday "firing
gunshots indiscriminately and burning houses."
"People who are running, trying to escape but are
being shot. The soldiers are engaging them(insurgents)
right now and I hope they overcome them," he added.
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