The daredevil attack on Giwa Barracks in Borno State yesterday has reportedly left more than 350 people dead, even as the Nigerian army blamed a malfunction in a multipurpose self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery weapon mounted to secure the barracks.
Boko Haram attackers dressed in military camouflage and operating from vehicles painted with military colours were reportedly able to penetrate the barracks due to the failure of the machinery and their camouflage dressing.
Soldiers frantically tried to get the equipment to work but had to abandon attempts in order to prevent the Boko Haram fighters from over running the barracks.
Sources within military intelligence said they were tipped off regarding an impending attack and had positioned the machinery to ward it off until the equipment failed.
No fewer than 350 people died in the ensuing chaos that left the town riddled with bullets.
53 terrorists were reportedly killed at the barracks during a firefight with Army personnel whilst another 297 are reported to have been killed in a joint operation by the Air Force and ground forces.
Abdullahi Dere, leader of a local arm of the Civilian JTF said about 207 Boko Haram were killed whilst many fled the town with injuries.
He said: “We counted 207 dead bodies of Boko Haram members shot dead by the military in Jidari Polo area alone. The suspected Boko Haram members had attacked Giwa Barracks and freed some of the detainees but the military were able to go after them and killed them. As we speak, the dead bodies of the terrorists are still within our area unattended to.”
He added: “We were also able to capture some fleeing Boko Haram suspects and handed them over to the military.”
Another civilian JTF commander said many Boko Haram were indeed killed but he feels innocents may have also been killed in the melee.
He said, “Many Boko Haram members were also killed apart from the ones killed in Jidari Polo. But we only fear that some innocent residents may be among those killed.”
Many of the towns citizens were injured, including a student of Mass Communication at University of Maiduguri who was hit by a stray bullet.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in an emailed statement,
“Pockets of terrorists apparently in a move to boost their depleted stock of fighters this morning attacked a military location in Maiduguri with a view to freeing their colleagues who are being held in detention.
“The attack has been successfully repelled with heavy human casualties on the terrorists. Some of the victims of the terrorists fired in their efforts to break into the detention facility included those they came to rescue.
“Many of the terrorists and their weapons have been captured. Four soldiers were wounded and are being treated.
“Hot pursuits by land and air operations are ongoing along with cordon and search of surrounding localities.
“No institution has been reportedly attacked, although the effect of firing from the encounter could be noticed in surrounding facilities in Maiduguri.”