Terrorist Attack Rocks Maiduguri as Security Operations Intensify Across Nigeria
Suspected terrorists attacked residential areas in Maiduguri early Monday, forcing residents to flee as troops repelled the assault. The incident comes amid heightened security operations nationwide, including arrests at Akure Airport and Niger Delta crackdowns.
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Suspected terrorists attacked multiple residential areas in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, in the early hours of Monday, sending residents fleeing from their homes. The assault began around 12:35 a.m. in the Dala, Bulamari, and Ajilari Cross neighborhoods, according to Naija News.
Attackers fired sporadically throughout the night, triggering panic across the city. Business Day reported that two loud explosions preceded sustained gunfire as Boko Haram terrorists targeted areas around Maiduguri and nearby Damboa. Nigerian troops repelled the midnight attacks, though the full extent of casualties remained unclear at press time.
Airport Security Breach
Security operatives arrested four suspected bandits at Akure Airport in Ondo State following a coordinated operation involving aviation and local security agencies. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria confirmed the arrests in a statement issued late Sunday, according to Naija News and The Nation Newspaper.
The suspects were initially spotted behind the airport perimeter before being apprehended on the airside. The Nigerian Army led the operation to secure the airport runway, which the bandits had reportedly entered with intent to cause disruption.
Niger Delta Operations
The Nigerian Navy destroyed illegal oil refineries and arrested 37 miners as part of ongoing operations against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, The Nation Newspaper reported. The crackdown forms part of broader efforts to combat economic sabotage in the oil-producing region.
Separately, the Department of State Services arrested Niger Delta activist Owoupele Owous on March 7, with family members alleging authorities have denied them access to the detainee. Sources told SaharaReporters that Owous was arrested at approximately 7:30 a.m., though the DSS has not publicly confirmed the detention or stated charges.
Drug Seizure at Abuja Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted a large cocaine consignment concealed in food items belonging to Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, 74, at Abuja airport. The UK-bound passenger had hidden the drugs in foil papers and balloons within his luggage, according to The Nation Newspaper.
In Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the killing of over 20 security personnel and local vigilantes in Garga, Kanam Local Government Area. The Nation Newspaper reported that the incident has drawn condemnation from both state officials and opposition parties.