As curfew holds in Maiduguri, Patrick Ugeh in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri.As the war in Maiduguri as well as the nearby town of Monguno continues, Amnesty International has said failure to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians could lead to a disastrous humanitarian crisis,
“These ongoing attacks by Boko Haram are significant and grim news. We believe hundreds of thousands of civilians are now at grave risk,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa Director. “People in and around Maiduguri need immediate protection. If the military doesn't succeed in stopping Boko Haram's advance, they may be trapped with nowhere else to turn.”
A curfew has been imposed on Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, following the on-going war for its control by Nigerian troops after Boko Haram terrorists launched an attack on the town earlier this morning.
The Islamist militants had simultaneously attacked Monguno, another town in Borno State after the battle started about midnight and, according to a youth vigilante source, the insurgents tried to gain entrance into the town through Dalwa and Ajilari crossing, fringes of Maiduguri.
According to THISDAY correspondent in Maiduguri, the battle raged throughout the night with residents unable to sleep as heavy firing and bombardment were heard, which alerted them to the danger.
The residents came out of their homes in all parts of the town to keep vigil.
It was thought that the insurgents had been successfully repelled as the bombardment stopped around 3:30pm.
However, they resumed about 5:30am, with the indication that people may be prevented from coming out of their homes and Christians in the town may not be able to worship at the churches as everyone is in awe.
The curfew imposed this morning is with immediate effect and till further notice.
“Troops are repelling a simultaneous attack on Monguno and Maiduguri by Terrorists,” a tweet by Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said, adding that coordinated air and land operations were “being conducted now.”
Amnesty International said it had received reports that at 6am on Sunday, gunmen attacked the base of 33 Artillery brigade at Jintilo village, just 6km outside Maiduguri. There are reports of ongoing fighting at the air force base closer to Maiduguri, it added.
According to AI, the Nigerian military responded with air strikes and moved tanks and troops to the area.
Civilians have reportedly fled the areas near to Jintilo towards central Maiduguri. However, not all civilians have been able to leave, it said.
“One resident told us: ‘If Maiduguri is attacked, we have nowhere else to go. Kano Road was the only way out’”, said Netsanet Belay.
Amnesty International continued: “All parties to the conflict urgently need to ensure that civilians who wish to evacuate Maiduguri are able to do so. In order to allow civilians to escape the fighting in Maiduguri, military operations should not be conducted along the main point of access: Kano Road.”
It also called on all parties to the conflict to refrain from military operations in the vicinity of the hospitals in Maiduguri and any other medical facilities.
“The government must ensure the protection of its civilians; (this) is at the core of its operations at this very dangerous time. There are hundreds of thousands of people in Maiduguri. Tens of thousands of people had already fled to Maiduguri from several other villages and towns attacked and controlled by Boko Haram, and are now living in camps there. The government’s failure to protect residents of Maiduguri at this time could lead to a disastrous humanitarian crisis.”
