Armed men suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect yesterday killed three people and injured many others at a market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The commissioner of police, Borno State Command, Mr. Simeon Midenda, confirmed the killings to journalists in Maiduguri.
He said, “I have received report of an attack this morning by suspected Boko Haram gunmen in Baga Market where a tea seller, a drug store owner and a passer-by were shot dead by the attackers.
“The fact that nothing was taken from the tea seller, who was shot in the chest and the head, and the drug store owner rules out robbery.”?
As at press time, the police were yet to report any arrests.
The popular Baga market is said to be a favourite for traders from neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Niger, Chad and others.
More than 10 people had lost their lives to suspected members of the sect in the last two days.
Five persons were reported killed on October 1, the day the country celebrated its 51st independence anniversary.
A butcher and his assistant were reportedly killed by the same gunmen in Maiduguri on Saturday.
Meanwhile, intending passengers at the Wurukum Motor Park in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, yesterday refused to board commercial motorcycles (okada). The development was sequel to? the news that the Boko Haram sect had concluded? plans to engage in? reprisal attacks on Christians in the state.
A local newspaper in the state had last month claimed that Muslims? had planned to bomb seven local government headquarters in the state.
But the state government had quickly faulted the claims, just as security measures were put in place to protect lives and property. The Imams and Ulamas had also faulted the publication and said it was a deliberate attempt to smear the image of Muslims in the state.
Yesterday,? passengers were seen at Wurukum Terminus struggling to retrieve their luggage from a vehicle which they had already booked for the journey.
Some of the travellers who had intended to pay for the fare changed their minds.? This sent negative signals to other intending passengers who hurriedly fled for safety.
One of the passengers who simply gave his name as John expressed his fears to one of our correspondent, saying he was coming into the city for the first time. He admitted that although he? heard of the lingering crisis between Muslims and Christians in the northern part of the country, he was sure? the state was not part of it.
John, who claimed to be an indigene of Enugu State, said, “This is very bad. Nigeria must be united. That is the only avenue of fostering peace and development.? Security agencies must be proactive in their duties by always roving to detect any crime plans. This is why the president celebrated Nigeria’s 51st independence anniversary in Aso Rock. These bombings should stop in order to allow Nigerians live in peace.”
Another passenger, who identified herself as Mrs. Kwaghngu Tor, lamented the development which she said had stopped her initial plans of travelling. She noted that peaceful co-existence and political stability were the only means of enhancing development in the country.