- Some soldiers were reportedly involved in indiscriminate shooting in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital
- The action of the soldiers caused panic in the city as many residents scampered to safety
- Gov. Babagana Umara however showed courage nd quickly moved to scene to assess the situation
Residents in the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, on Sunday, June 16, witnessed some skirmishes following indiscriminate shooting by some soldiers.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the situation forced many women, children and elderly people in Damboa road and Polo general area to scamper for safety.
Residents said they started hearing gunshots at about 3 p.m., though unsure if soldiers were test-firing equipment.
Haruna Kachala, a Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF), said that the gunshots came from the soldiers stationed at the state hotel along Damboa road bye pass while on their way to relieve their colleagues at Molai general area.
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His words: “Initially, we thought the military were test firing their equipment, but when the other troops at Molai general responded to the fire, residents ran helter skelter.”
Bukar Mala, a resident in Damboa road said they fled for safety when they heard continuous shootings from the two different locations.
A combined team of hunters, civilian Joint Task Force and the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS), led by Gov. Babagana Umara, quickly moved to scene to assess the situation.
Gov. Umara told newsmen that there was no caurse for alarm, stressing that his government would ensure that peace and security returned to all parts of the state.
“We are yet to ascertain what exactly happened, but it was not Boko Haram attack as earlier speculated.
“We shall equip and strengthen the security agencies to improve on emergency response, to address issues like this,” he said.
He advised residents in the state to shun rumour mongering that could cause unnecessary fear.
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Meanwhile, a group, Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) on Sunday, June 16, condemned in strong terms the activities of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) around the Lake Chad Basin region.
Following series of heightened attacks by the radical group around the Lake Chad Basin, the SHAC called for the intervention of the international community.
SHAC's executive director, Grace Akatu, while speaking in Abuja appealed to countries around the world to join forces with the Nigerian authorities in combating the menace of ISWAP.
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Source: Legit Newspaper
