Kano, Maiduguri attacked again: 13 killed in Boko Haram, soldiers gun battle

*Igbo to kinsmen in the north: Relocate wives, children to south-east

By Tony Edike , AbdulSalam Muhammed & Ndahi Marama

No fewer than 13 people were at the weekend killed in the latest confrontation between the security forces and members of the Boko Haram sect.

The scenes of confrontation were Kano, the capital of Kano State, where 186 people were killed when the sect struck, penultimate Friday, and Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

At the end of the fresh Kano clash, on Friday, one police officer lay dead.
11 Boko Haram operatives were killed in the Maiduguri incident, yesterday.
Earlier yesterday, the sect operatives were credited with the killing of the youth leader of Borno State chapter of the ruling All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state capital.

The Boko Haram/security forces confrontation took place just as a section of Igbo leaders rose from a meeting in Enugu asking their kinsmen resident in the north to relocate their wives and children back to the south-east.

The Kano incident occurred at Mandawari  Police Division located about  900 meters to the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero
EXCHANGE OF FIRE
According to the state commissioner of police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, the gunmen arrived in two cars – a Peugeot and Volkswagen Golf – and motorcycle after which they opened fire on the police station.


In the ensuing exchange of fire from policemen, Idris, who spoke to journalists, yesterday, stated that one of his officers was killed.

The gunmen escaped.

The police commissioner revealed that the police recovered from the scene of the clash one AK 47 rifle and AND 3 magazine abandoned by the invaders.

He stated that the scene was littered with blood, an indication that the attackers escaped with bullet wounds.
The late evening shootout triggered pandemonium in the densely populated area of Kano metropolis as sporadic gunshots rented the air following the arrival of the military.

SULTAN VISITS

The shootout coincided with the visit of the Sultan of Sokoto who came to commiserate with the Emir of Kano over the penultimate Friday killings.

11 INSURGENTS DEAD

11 suspected Boko Haram members were, in the yesterday incident, killed after soldiers from the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) clashed with them in two wards of Maiduguri.
One member of the sect was arrested during the clash which reportedly lasted 15 minutes.
The arrested member, with injuries, according to security sources, was taken to the University of Maidiguri Teaching Hospital for treatment.


Before the clash, three gunmen suspected to belong  to the Boko Haram sect, attacked the Borno ANPP youth leader, Alhaji Atake, 32, near Mai-Deribe mosque in Bulunkutu ward of Maiduguri.
The gunmen shot him in the head and arm, killing him instantly.

‘TO THY TENTS OH IGBO’

Yesterday’s decision of some Igbo leaders to ask their kinsmen resident in the worth to relocate home their wives and children came against the backdrop of continued bombing by Boko Haram of public institutions including churches and homes in the north, which has claimed several lives and property of Ndigbo living in the affected areas.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting held at the Enugu residence of  the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu , leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, and the former President General of apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, retired Justice Ezebuilo Ozobu, said the call became necessary since the situation is getting worse.

“We can no longer keep quiet or fold our arms watching our brothers and sisters being slaughtered by members of the Boko Haram on daily basis in the North and buried in mass grave,” the Igbo leaders declared.
They stated that the number of innocent Igbos that are killed by the Islamic sect are under reported by the media.

According to Uwazurike, the leaders took a critical review of the unfortunate happenings in the North before taking their decision, and advised that such returnees who do not have places to stay to go to any of the refuges or resettlement centers already provided in parts of South East zone such as the one in Okwe, Okigwe in Imo state.

He also appealed to the international community, religious organizations, and wealthy individuals in Igbo land to come to the assistance of such displaced “fellow brothers and sisters” whom he said, “may be facing untold hardship upon their return back home”.

He further explained that a committee had already been put in place to discuss the ugly development with president Goodluck Jonathan .

He assured the returnees that more resettlement camps would be set up in various parts of Igbo land, advising the men folk and husbands to go back to their various locations in the North to man their businesses and always be at  alert.

As at the time of filing this report yesterday, Igbo elders, politicians and religious leaders were holding another meeting at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu with Governors of South East geo-political zone under the headship of Peter Obi of Anambra State over the insecurity situation in the North especially as it affects the Igbos residing in that part of the nation.

Their communique was being awaited at press time.

Source: Vanguard news

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