Gunmen Kill Chinese, 13 Others in Maiduguri as Explosions, Hit Potiskum

A Chinese construction worker was yesterday shot dead as well as three soldiers and ten civilians in Maiduguri, Borno State as members of the extremist Boko Haram sect held the town hostage. Also yesterday, residents of Potiskum, Yobe State were forced to remain indoors after a fresh attack was launched Thursday night by suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

It would be recalled that three Indians and a Ghanaian were killed in Maiduguri earlier this week while the neighbouring town of Gubio witnessed the killing of three Chinese construction workers.

It was gathered that the Chinese expatriate worker killed yesterday shot dead in the morning at his company's construction site.
The killing of the Chinese immediately spark confusion in the town and other Chinese workers had to take to their heels for fear of being killed.

At the Lagos street axis where the Chinese was killed, two other persons were found dead on the street.

In other parts of the town, another set of eight civilians including a pharmacist, automobile technician and some traders were killed by suspected Islamic sect.

Three soldiers were also killed when the terrorist attacked a military checkpoint in the town.

The pharmacist was killed at Old Maiduguri, five persons were killed at Bayan Quarters and two others at Abbaganaram area on Friday morning in what could be termed another dark day.

The major area where the confrontation was witnessed was the Hausari ward, as Budum and Makera also witnessed deadly exchange of gunfire.

A pickup van belonging to one of the security services was seen burnt beyond recognition at Makera with heavy smoke easing out of Budum.

As at the time of filling the report last night the numbers of casualty could not be ascertained as many areas were cordoned off and the streets deserted.
The major markets of Baga, Gamboru and Monday market were forced into early closure as the gun exchanges between the soldiers and militant persists.

Caption:  Governor Sullivan Chime
Army Moves to Fix Failed Portions of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway

With the heightening distress being experienced by travellers on Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, the Nigerian Army has mobilised its engineers to repair the most critical portions of the collapsed highway in order to give succour to the road users.

By Friday  the army engineers numbering over 20 were busy repairing the Lokpanta cattle market section of the road, which has been a source of nightmare for road users as vehicles were stuck on both lanes while drivers jostle for right of way.

Leader of the team of army engineers working on the road, Colonel Mark Mamman told journalists at the site that the army engineers and their equipment were mobilized on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika. He said that the Nigerian Army was always ready to assist the civil authorities to solve natural problem, including infrastructure decay.

According to him, the army boss was touched by the pains travellers were going through on the expressway and saw the need for army’s intervention to make the road passable pending the time that full rehabilitation would be carried by government.

“The resources we have would not allow for elaborate rehabilitation,” he said, adding that the army would repair three kilometers on either side of the carriageway at the Lokpa section before moving to other critical areas.

Col Mamman noted that the poor condition of the expressway has constituted a security challenge as hoodlums capitalise on the situation to harass, rob and harm innocent commuters.

“It is a very big security challenge (because) if the road is smooth it would be difficult for hoodlums to stop vehicles and rob travellers,” he said.

Aside from falling victims to criminals, the army officer also pointed out that travellers on the expressway encounter much discomfort due to incessant bogging down of vehicles thereby impeding movement on the road.