By Michael OlugbodeNot less than 82 persons were killed in Sunday's attempted invasion of Maiduguri by the Islamic fundamentalists, Boko Haram, security sources have said.
But this fell short of another account by one of the members of the youth vigilante group, Abba Modu, who was involved in the battle against the terrorist group. He claimed that not less than 500 insurgents were killed at the points of entry into the town where the insurgents tried to invade from.
According to the breakdown of the security sources who spoke anonymously to our correspondent, not less than 70 insurgents were killed, ten innocent civilians and two insurgents were felled in the attempted invasion of the town, the second in a space of seven days.
About 65 persons were reported killed during last Sunday's multiple attack on Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram.
Security sources said that 50 insurgents were killed in Dalwa, about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, where the battle was fiercest as the insurgents met their Waterloo.
It was gathered that about 20 others were killed in other parts of the town where the terrorists also attempted gaining entrance into the town.
It was also gathered that though the number of soldiers lost in the attack might be more, two were reportedly killed and had been conveyed from the battlefield with five seen seriously injured.
The latest attacks on the town were said to have been at four major points of entrance - Ngom, Dalwa, Molai and Jawuri.
A member of the youth vigilante group, Abba Ibrahim, said: "The insurgents in the customary way attacked just moments after the early morning Islamic prayers, they attacked the town from Ngom (the border with Mafa), Dalwa (the border with Konduga), Molai (the border with Damboa) and Jawuri (around Njimtilo, border with Kaga on the Damaturu road)."
According to him: "The insurgents launched two rocket propelled grenades into Gindari Polo area killing many civilians."
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