Nigerian troops on Sunday engaged
Boko Haram fighters in a fierce battle in
Maiduguri, the military, vigilantes and residents
said.
"Troops are repelling a simultaneous attack on
Monguno and Maiduguri by terrorists," the
defence headquarters said on Twitter.
It said an air and land operation was going on
against the Islamists, adding that a curfew had
been imposed on the embattled city which has
been the epicentre of the six-year-old Boko
Haram insurgency.
Fears have been growing for months about a
possible strike on Maiduguri after the Islamist
militants began seizing towns and villages in
three northeast states about six months ago.
On January 3, they captured the fishing hub of
Baga, in the far north of Borno State, which
security analysts said put them in a better
position to strike south to hit Maiduguri, the
state capital.
Locals said fighting was on-going and that the
extremists first attacked Jintilo settlement on
the outskirts of the city around 5:00 am (0400
GMT).
But they met stiff resistance from troops
stationed in the village, just five kilometres
(three miles) from Maiduguri, where Boko Haram
was founded in 2002.
"Fighting is still going on since 5:00 am at Jintilo
between Boko Haram and soldiers. We have all
evacuated our homes," said Mustapha Zaraye, a
resident of a housing estate near the scene.
"More soldiers are deploying to Jintilo," he
added.
Residents on the southern outskirts of the city
moved out of their homes and poured into the
city as fighting raged.
"It is flying bullets everywhere. All we hear are
sounds of guns and explosions," said Buba Kyari,
a resident of Moronti neighbourhood, near Jintilo.
"A rocket-propelled grenade hit and killed a
person from my neighbourhood who was fleeing
into the city."
A military jet was seen overhead and began
aerial bombings of Boko Haram positions, a
member of a civilian vigilante group fighting
alongside the troops said.
"The attackers have been subdued and are in
disarray," the vigilante added, asking to remain
anonymous for security reasons.

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