Boko Haram Bombs Beer Garden in Maiduguri

Boko Haram Bombs Beer Garden in Maiduguri

Gunmen believed to be Boko Haram members threw bombs and fired indiscriminately on a beer garden in Maiduguri on Sunday, killing dozens.

Unconfirmed reports say at least thirty people were killed and many more injured when the gunmen on motorbikes carried out the attack in the Dala area of the Borno State capital.

The attack came only a few hours after the State Governor, Kashim Shettima, indicated his intention to continue dialogue with the radical Islamist group.

Threats

Boko Haram had, in an online statement last week, threatened to intensify its spate of bombings in the northern parts of the country.

In the statement, it said, "We are ready for the Nigerian state; after the training of our commandos in Somalia, northern states such as Plateau, Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, should watch out for us, especially in Kaduna."

The sect warned all civilians to avoid military formations especially the police.

It said, "The failed assassination attempt on the Inspector General of Police will not deter us as we are going to attack the entire northern parts of the country including Abuja. People should, therefore, avoid crowded places and gatherings," the statement warned.

Relief

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it is mobilizing relief materials for the victims.

NEMA Public Relations Officer in Abuja, Mr. Yushau Shuaibu, told the News Agency of Nigeria, by telephone that the Agency was aware of the explosion and had started responding to the situation. 

NAN / Ekata