THE dreaded Boko Haram terrorists are planning two major attacks before the end of the year, Sunday Tribune has gathered.
Though the targets of the planned attacks could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report, the United States Embassy in Nigeria, on Friday, warned of an impending attack on a popular hotel in Lagos.
It, however, said it had no further information on the method and timing of the attack.
A citizen of Borno State, names withheld, who reportedly escaped from the terrorists after being abducted, told Sunday Tribune in an exclusive chat that the sect members were planning two major attacks this year.
He also expressed fears that the attackers might already have infiltrated Maiduguri and other areas in the North-East.
But in a development that has begun to generate tension in Lagos, the US embassy, in a security message to US citizens on terrorism threat, which was released on the embassy’s website late Friday, the US embassy warned its citizens to avoid the two branches of the hotel located in commercial hub of Lagos “at this time,” because it could not pinpoint which one was to be attacked.
“As of late April, groups associated with terrorism allegedly planned to mount an unspecified attack against the hotel in Nigeria (name withheld), near the city of Lagos. There was no further information regarding which of the two branches of the hotel in Lagos was the possible target, or if both of the hotels are possible targets. There is no further information regarding the timing or method of attack. U.S. citizens are cautioned to avoid these hotels at this time,” the US embassy stated.
Terrorists attack Borno village, kill scores
Meanwhile, Alimineri village and one other village along Konduga road, Maiduguri were, on Saturday, attacked by members of the Boko Haram insurgents, reportedly leaving scores dead while hundreds fled their homes.
Though the military, in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, confirmed that there was an attack on Margimari village and other settlements in the outskirts of Maiduguri, it stated that only four persons were killed.
But narrating his ordeal, one of the residents of Alimineri, Mallam Aji Mallum, who said he and others escaped from the affected village, told newsmen that the villages were burnt down in the attacks, which occured around 2 a.m. on Saturday.
“Some of the locals who were trapped in their homes were burnt alive with all their property, while some were gunned down while trying to escape. Women, children, young men and old were not spared by the insurgents. It took the grace Allah that we escaped,” he said.