Six Teachers Feared Dead As Gunmen Storm Schools In Maiduguri

Confusion reigned supreme, Monday, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, as gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram raided some schools in the town, killing not less than six teachers , injuring others, including students in the process.


As the raid was going on, some schools had to hurriedly shut down as they sent their teachers and students home for fear of being attacked.

Apprehensive parents also ran helter skelter, leaving their various places of work as they rushed to their wards’ school to ensure that their children were safe.

Eyewitnesses said about six heavily armed men were seen attacking one of the schools at about 9.10 am. It was also gathered that at about 9:10am around Ruwan Zafi area of the town,  six suspected Boko Haram menbers laid ambush to  Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School where they killed a teacher and injured three female students.

Three female teachers were also said to have been killed at the Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School around Ruwan Zafi ward  while two others were killed at the Mafoni Primary and Secondary Schools.

Some other people in the town said another shooting occured at about 11:20am at Mafoni area when another set of gunmen stormed Ali Askira Primary School where they killed one Mallam Abdullahi, before moving to Mafoni Day Secondary School where they killed a female teacher identified
as Hajja Yagumsu.

Confirming the development in a statement, Monday night, spokesman of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno, Operation Restore Order, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, said:  "Information available to the Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order indicated that a teacher at Sanda Karami Secondary School, Ruwan Zafi, Customs General Area in Maiduguri metropolis one Malam Kachalla was shot dead today Monday, 18 March, 2013 between 8 – 9 am inside the school’s premises by Boko Haram terrorists. Three female students were also critically injured from bullet wounds and were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital by the JTF patrol attracted to the scene by hasty movement of people from Customs Market area.

"Similarly, another attack on a Secondary School in Mafoni and Galadima areas of Maiduguri by Boko Haram was averted by the intervention of JTF troops leading to the death of three terrorists and recovery of two  AK 47 Rifles, 200 rounds of ammunition, two video recorders, one laptop and two tricycles. Efforts are on to apprehend the other culprits and be made to face the law."