Witnesses told Daily Trust that on Tuesday night, repentant Boko Haram militants burst into a Maiduguri police station, allegedly with the intention of freeing their fellows who were detained on drug-related charges.
The attackers broke into the station while wearing military camouflage and brandishing cutlasses, inflicting injuries on several police officers and causing chaos.
Police officers attempted to fend off the assaults, but reinforcements were needed to take control of the situation.
A picture for illustration purpose
Witnesses described a chaotic and violent scene when the rebels attacked the police station, injuring many officers and attacking bystanders.
Local residents voiced their concerns, indicating that the incident underscored the lack of security in Maiduguri, as the police struggled to fend off the attackers and some prisoners managed to flee amidst the chaos.
Fanta Modu, owner of a restaurant in the vicinity, called upon the government to reassess its strategy regarding the federal government's de-radicalization efforts.
“I was relatively young when followers of Mohammed Yusuf (Boko Haram founder) launched simultaneous attacks on Maiduguri in 2009. They also attacked the police headquarters at that time.
“Honestly, the recent event reminds me of that terrible incident. I am of the view that the so-called repentant Boko Haram members have not fully repented.
They are not well refined because if they have been fully reintegrated into the society, why would they go back to drugs to the extent that they had the audacity to attack security posts?” she asked.