…Troops recover jeep loaded with bombs near Maiduguri

By Ndahi Marama

MAIDUGURI—Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has urged fleeing residents of attacked Zabarmari and Hadamari villages to return, as troops will provide protection against any Boko Haram attacks or bombings on the affected farming and herding communities in the state.

Addressing surviving residents of Zabarmari, Governor Shettima said the fleeing villagers trooping to Maiduguri to take refuge should return to their respective houses.

Women and children flee from home burnt by Boko Haram Islamists at Zabarmari, a fishing and farming village near Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, on July 3, 2015. Several female suicide bombers in northeast Nigeria blew themselves up amid panicked villagers fleeing a Boko Haram attack, killing scores, the army and witnesses said on July 4. The latest carnage in series of attacks that have claimed more than 200 lives in just three days happened on Friday night in Zabarmari village, 10 kilometres (six miles) from the city of Maiduguri, the birthplace of the jihadist group. AFP PHOTO/STRINGER
AFP

His words: “Since the military have repelled the insurgents from destroying this village, the people should not run and flee to Maiduguri for safety, but return to your homes which were burnt apart from the torched shops and local market.”

He said villagers that have already fled and congregated at the Old Maiduguri resettlement camp, should as matter of urgency  return to Zabarmari and Hadamari villages, as nine buses are at the camp for shuttling the fleeing villagers to their homes.

He also assured the villagers that the state government will rebuild the destroyed shops and market, so that the people could continue with their normal daily activities.

“Meanwhile, I am going with two village heads now along with your councillor to Maiduguri to collect food items and other basic needs of life for distribution. A patrol vehicle will be released to CJTF for this village’s patrol and surveillances,” assured Shettima.

Briefing the governor on recent attacks, the councilor, Alhaji Mohammed Bello said  the soldiers have tried their best in repelling the insurgents  before fleeing towards Koshobe village, one of the insurgents’ regrouping hideout in Borno State.

He however said that the soldiers should be re-equipped with modern fighting weapons, because the insurgents’ three-hour attacks could have been nipped in the bud to save people’s lives and property.

A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Ahmadu Bello, however told our Correspondent that after the soldiers repelled the insurgents, the gunmen fled to a nearby village known as Koshobe, seven kilometres east of Zabarmari village.

“As I’m talking to you now; the insurgents are hiding in Koshobe village, not very far away from this village attacked recently when seven people were killed, with the injuring of nine others taken to Maiduguri hospital for treatments,” said Bello on the hideouts of insurgents.

Aftermath of bombing near Maiduguri:  Troops recover jeep loaded with bombs

A jeep full of Improvised Explosives Devices, IEDs was among the weapons recovered by troops conducting Cordon and Search Operations after suicide bombing attacks on Zabamari Muna near Maiduguri.

Information from Defence Headquaters, signed by Major General AC Olukolade, Director Defence Information said the jeep along with 2 hilux vehicles being used by terrorists were destroyed in the course of pursuit and encounter with a group of terrorists trying to escape after simultaneous attacks on targets in the communities Thursday and Friday.

A total of 6 suicide bombers had detonated themselves around the garage killing scores of people while some people were also wounded. A soldier also died.

Military Explosives Ordinance experts backed by Police Bomb Disposal Units are continuing with vigorous search for any bombs that might have been hidden or left unexploded in the area.