Categories: AFRICALatest

Death Toll in Maiduguri Rocket Attack Rises to 16

The death toll during the Boko Haram jihadist attack in the Borno state capital Maiduguri has risen to 16, AFP is reporting.

The 16 people who died in the attack on Tuesday in the northeastern city included nine children who were playing football in a field, local militia told AFP Wednesday.

Officials said previously 10 people were killed and 47 were injured in Tuesday’s attack when jihadists fired rocket-propelled grenades on the densely-populated city.
Boko Haram has previously made incursions into Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, using heavy guns and suicide bombers.
“The death toll has risen to 16,” Babakura Kolo, the leader of a self-defence militia, told AFP.
In one of the neighbourhoods affected, Gwange, nine boys were killed when one of the explosives landed in a field where they were playing football, Kolo said.
“Initially four died but five more died from the serious injuries they sustained from the explosion.”
Another militiaman, Umar Ari, gave the same death toll and said it could still rise as many were injured.
Eyewitness Sama’ila Ibrahim said the jihadists crossed the ditch fortification around Maiduguri, sending residents scrambling for safety with the sporadic shooting.
Ibrahim said the militants came through Boboshe village, a known Boko Haram enclave.
Attacks by the group aimed at overrunning the regional capital are usually foiled in fierce gun battles with Nigerian troops.
In February last year, Boko Haram fired volleys of explosives into the city, injuring several people.
Since the insurgency began in 2009, the jihadist conflict has killed 36,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes in the region.
The violence has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.
By Abel Ejikeme

Follow us on:

Abel Ejikeme

Recent Posts

France Raises Bird Flu Risk Level To ‘High’, Tightens Security At Poultry Farms

France has raised its bird flu risk to "high," enforcing stricter poultry farm measures as…

39 mins ago

Yemi Oke Calls For Decentralised Power Solutions, Says We Can’t Rely On A Weak National Grid

Yemi Oke has said Nigeria’s needs staggered, decentralised off-grid solutions, saying the national grid is…

45 mins ago

British-Nigerian Sentenced To 7 Years For $5M Fraud Scheme

A British-Nigerian has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a…

2 hours ago

Israeli Rescue Mission Deployed To Amsterdam Following Violent Attacks On Israeli Football Fans

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered two rescue planes to the Netherlands after violence against…

4 hours ago

New ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy In Development By ‘X-Men’ Producer Simon Kinberg

Disney is developing a new “Star Wars” trilogy, which will explore a fresh storyline

4 hours ago

Ghana Reports First Oil Output Increase in Five Years With Production Rising By 10.7%

Ghana's crude oil production rose by 10.7% in early 2024, marking the first increase after…

4 hours ago