Boko Haram returns to Borno highways

Boko Haram insurgents believed to have fled their hideouts following military raids on their camps in Borno State, have renewed attacks on motorists and commuters along major highways, travellers said.
One of the witnesses said the insurgents intercepted a truck carrying food items along Maiduguri-Damaturu highway, as the driver of the vehicle fled when he sighted them.
“Our vehicle almost ran into Boko Haram near Benisheik, but for the alert from a car in front. The driver of the private car had suddenly put his car in reverse and then made a quick U-turn back to Damaturu axis of the road, signaling to our driver to turn back too,” he said.

That was how we knew problem was ahead. He later told us at Ngamdu where many motorists stopped that Boko Haram struck on the road, that they put fire on a truck,” a source said.
Another source, who said he was returning to Maiduguri on Friday morning from Bauchi, disclosed that he was gripped with fear when he learnt the insurgents were on the highway. He said about 40 vehicles and hundreds of commuters as well as travellers were held up at Ngamdu town for almost an hour.
“We were there until some policemen came and told us the road had been cleared,” he said.
It was not clear at press time if any life was lost in the attack but residents said that the insurgents also resurfaced along Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu Road, killing two motorists. Efforts to get the reaction of the Commissioner of Police, Tanko Lawan did not yield result as he could not be reached on his mobile phone at press time.
But a military source said troops along the road were put on “red alert throughout the weekend,” adding that regular patrols by soldiers from 7Army Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri and the police were carried out.
“We are carrying out regular patrols to ensure people travel along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road and other major roads in the state safely,” the source, who did not want his name in print, said.

Source: sunnewsonline.com