The Nigerian Army has pointed fingers at some residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, as harbouring the members of Boko Haram. They know the sect's hideouts from where it launches attacks on the people, the army said, adding that soldiers and other security agents in the state did not molest civilians in a bid to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency.

The commandant of the Nigerian Army troops in Maiduguri (Operation Restore Order), Major Gen. Jack Ukechukwu Nwabo, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Hausa service: "We are doing our job here and not molesting anyone. No matter how you do it, people must complain.

"And I cannot stop them from complaining, but they should know that we also know that they, the residents of Maiduguri, are the ones harbouring Boko Haram. They are hiding and supporting them, and they refused to cooperate with us and the Boko Haram are inside their homes.

"They are amongst them and they are shielding them. Since that is the situation, our thorough investigation must affect them and not to molest anyone deliberately."

"We have been appealing to them to volunteer useful information regarding those committing these acts of terrorism, but they are lackadaisical and adamant.

"Because of this we are adopting several strategies that we cannot reveal, and will continue with our operations towards overcoming insurgency and bringing peace to Maiduguri and the whole of Borno State."

Borno State governor Kashim Shettima also spoke on the issue, saying that, "We have talked to the commandant of the soldiers on the need to be calm and civil in the course of operations. The situation we are in cannot be free from high-handedness, but we are doing our best.

"I have set up a committee to check all these complaints and all the vehicles that their windscreens were destroyed, I will personally replace them with my own money and not the resources of the government."

But some residents of the Maiduguri town had accused the military personnel of high-handed, alleging that the security operatives unleashed punishment on them, particularly those riding motorcycles who claimed that some of the soldiers seized their motorcycles and tore their tyres.

One of the residents who craved anonymity said, "I have never been afraid like now, they just punish people indiscriminately. If we don't know Boko Haram sect members, how do we reveal what we don't know? Do they want us to lie against innocent people?"

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State capital was on Sunday night again hit by a bomb explosion within the vicinity of a hotel in the heart of Kaduna town. Persons suspected to be members of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, carried out the attack which injured at least six persons suspected to be commercial sex workers.

Security operatives are said to have taken over the city with personnel of anti-bomb squad paying special attention to the two main bridges, including the train bridge that connects both axis of the state, as it was believed to be targeted by members of the sect.

LEADERSHIP checks revealed that the bomb, which is suspected to be an improvised explosive devices (IEDs), had exploded at about 11:45pm on Sunday night in the area popularly known as 'Obalande' and reputed to be a habour of prostitutes.

The bomb explosion, which is the fifth in recent times, is believed to have been targeted at the commercial sex workers most of whom sustained varying degrees of injury from the explosion.

One of the victims who spoke to our correspondent said it was drizzling at the time and she was on her way to purchase condoms when she heard the loud explosion which threw her down.

According to the eyewitness who would not have her name in print, "It was raining and I went out to buy condoms for my business. I now heard loud sound that made me fall. I did not know I was injured until after entering my room.

"I saw blood on my leg and chest, then I was taken to a nearby hospital. I am still feeling pain on my leg. About six of us got several injuries and some are still in the hospitals," she said.

A resident of the area, who also spoke to LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity, said the bomb was planted in a pit used for refuse disposal by residents as they may have been unable to gain entrance into the hotel, given security checks at the hotel and others around Kaduna.

According to him, the bomb did not cause too much damage as it exploded at a time most people had gone to sleep but window glasses and fences of houses within the area were shattered by the impact of the explosion.

Efforts to reach the Kaduna State police public relations officer to confirm the incident proved abortive as he was said not to be available. However, personnel of the Kaduna State Anti-bomb Squad confirmed the incident.

A former head of state, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, on Monday called on members of the Boko Haram sect to seek dialogue with government.

Abubakar urged the group to immediately embrace dialogue with government in order to avoid further loss of innocent lives and property in the country.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Addis Ababa, the former head of state said detonating bombs and killing innocent citizens would not solve the problem of the group.


"Members of the group should make their demands known to the government. They should sit down and discuss their grievances and stop killing innocent citizens.

"Detonating bombs will not give them what they want, rather it will give Nigeria and Nigerians a bad name.

He attributed the current insecurity in the country to the high rate of poverty among Nigerians and unemployment.

Abubakar said there was a need for the government to urgently address the poverty level in the country.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the University of Maiduguri have announced the indefinite closure of the institution. According to the university registrar, the development is for security reasons.