Crime
4 killed 34 injured as Boko Haram infiltrated protest in Borno
4 killed 34 injured as Boko Haram infiltrated protest in Borno
By: Our Reporter
On Thursday, the Borno Police Command reported that Boko Haram terrorists infiltrated a protest near A.A Kime Filling Station, Baga Road, resulting in four fatalities and injuries to 34 others.
The Borno State Police Commissioner, Farouq Lawal, provided details of the incident and subsequent actions taken by the police.
Details of Incident:
- Attack and Casualties:
- Boko Haram militants infiltrated a protest, killing four individuals and injuring 34 others. The injured and deceased were transported to Specialist Hospital Maiduguri for medical attention and autopsy.
- Security Response:
- The police swiftly deployed the Commander of the Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD), Base 13, to the scene. The area, including the filling station and its surroundings, was secured and declared safe.
- Curfew and Riot Control:
- The protest, which involved minors, primarily almajiris aged 9-15, escalated into violence. Protesters took over the Maiduguri-Kano road at the Mala Kachalla Roundabout, linking the Borno Express Fly-over. Despite police attempts to disperse the crowd peacefully, the situation turned riotous, with protesters breaking through police barriers, throwing stones, and advancing towards the city center.
- Further Violence and Vandalism:
- Rioters spread to other areas of Maiduguri Municipal, targeting the Borno State Mechanical Workshop along Baga Road. They looted vocational skills acquisition equipment and vandalized five vehicles belonging to the Borno State Transport Management Agency (BOTMA).
- Arrests and Ongoing Investigations:
- Fourteen suspects were arrested and are currently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Command.
Current Status:
- A 24-hour curfew was declared by the Executive Governor of Borno State in response to the deteriorating security situation. The curfew has since been lifted, with normalcy returning to Maiduguri. Other Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state remain calm, with ongoing monitoring and patrols by security forces.
- 4 killed 34 injured as Boko Haram infiltrated protest in Borno