The members of the Boko Haram Sect have written
to the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army threatening to attack Maimalari
Barracks on Friday (today), Punch reports. Read full report below...
Investigations revealed that security had been beefed up in the Maimalari Barracks which has the Headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division of the Artillery Corps, the Ordinance, the Signal and other crucial units of the Army in Maiduguri.
It was gathered that while security agents saw the letter as a ploy to instill fear into security operatives, all efforts were being made to ward off any attack on the foremost military formation in the North-East.
A source said that the insurgents might have
compelled one of the drivers to get the letter to the military of their plan to
attack the barracks.
The source said that the letter was written in
Hausa Language.
“Yesterday, the Boko Haram sect wrote that they
would attack the Maimalari Barracks. They wrote the letter in Hausa Language to
give the notification of their coming.
“However, security operatives are praying for
them to come to the barracks. The barracks is the biggest; it is the cantonment
in Maiduguri.
“The barracks accommodates, the 7th Infantry
Division, the Artillery, Ordinance, Engineering, Signal and other corps.
“People are even surprised how they got the
letter to the barracks; one cannot rule out intimidation of one of the drivers
to get the letter to the barracks.
“Soldiers are on the red alert. There are many
soldiers there who are waiting for the attack. Soldiers are battle ready,” the
source said.
The current threat is coming barely after the
Boko Haram sect launched an attack on Giwa Barracks, the Headquarters of the 21
Artillery Brigade on March 15, 2014.
Authoritative military sources said that over
350 insurgents were killed in that attack while some soldiers were injured. A
soldier was also said to have lost four children to the attack.
Our correspondent also gathered that the
Special Forces had taken over the Gwoza Hills believed to be one of the
strongest hideouts of the sect in the North-East.
Investigations revealed that the Special Forces stormed the Gwoza Hills and killed several insurgents in a combined operation with the men of the Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday.
The source said that a soldier was killed in
the attack while some others were injured.
“There was an encounter in Gwoza Hills. Troops
have taken over the place; it was another fierce encounter.
“A soldier was killed and some others were
wounded. On the part of the insurgents, I can’t give you the exact casualty
figure because the Air Force was involved and bombs were used.
“Gwoza Hills is one of their strong points. The
Boko Haram took over the entire place before the battle but soldiers have taken
over the place and have captured some of their arms and ammunition.
“That place is one of their main operational
bases; corpses are smelling there. It is a joint operation involving the Air
Force and others.
“The insurgents hide under the hills to launch
attacks. It takes over three hours to climb to the top of the hills in some
cases. The hills are massive,” the source said.
Source: Punch
