Troops avert pre-Sallah tragedy in Borno

 Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim

The  Nigerian Army   on Tuesday said it had averted  a pre-Sallah tragedy in Borno State by uncovering a plot by insurgents to wreak havoc in three communities.

It also confirmed the   killing   40 of the insurgents and destruction of   a vehicle wired with Improvised Explosive Devices which was meant to be exploded  in Bama on Sunday night.

 The Spokesman of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Capt. Aliyu Danja, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday,  said some of the  insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds.

Danja  said    that the  terror suspects had planned to launch coordinated attacks in Bama, Gwoza and Pulka towns in Borno State at the same time on Sunday.

He added,  “Troops of 7th Division Nigerian Army have foiled yet another attack by Boko Haram terrorists aimed at inflicting havoc on Borno State prior to Sallah festivities.

“The terrorists who are of unknown strength attempted coordinated simultaneous attacks on Bama, Gwoza and Pulka on the night of Sunday, October 13,  2013.

“Soldiers of 7 Division in anticipation, however, successfully repelled all the attacks, killing 40 terrorists in the three locations while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.

 “Soldiers also destroyed a pickup vehicle loaded with IEDs meant for destruction of Bama  during the encounter.”

The statement  added  that a combined operation by the Nigerian Air Force and ground troops led to the neutralisation of a plot by Boko Haram elements and their weapons at Kilani area of the state.

 It stated that the Eid-el Kabir prayers were  held   amid tight security provided by the men of the Division ‘7’ of the Nigerian Army under the leadership of the Commanding Officer, Maj. Gen Obadiah Ethan.

The 2011 Sallah celebrations were marred by multiple bombings planned and executed by the Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, Borno State on Friday, November 4, 2011.

Several explosives planted in the city were programmed to go off simultaneously in the troubled city including the offices of the Joint Task Force.

The Agence France Presse  reported then that two suicide bombers driving a black SUV laden with IEDs detonated the devices in front of the JTF headquarters in Maiduguri  when they failed to gain entrance into the premises. The military  said two   suicide bombers died.

The attacks took place two days before the annual Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

On October 27, 2012, insurgents  launched an attacks a few hours to Sallah in  Maiduguri, killing three youths in the presence of  their parents at at Zajiri Ward in Maiduguri

The gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members also killed 15  people in Baga market  that same year.