Tension in Borno as Boko Haram hijacks bags of rice (updated)

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect broke loose in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, on Friday, hijacking bags of rice meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Maigari Bala, a driver, who witnessed the incident, told TheCable that the insurgents struck in the Damboa road axis of the ancient town.

A source had said the truck that was attacked was conveying foodstuff of the World Food Programme (WFP), but the agency later said none of its truck was attacked on the day of the incident.

“They laid siege to the road around 3pm this afternoon. They seized a truck loaded with rice which was meant for distribution at an internally displaced persons (IDPs), camp in Damboa,” Bala said.

“We took to our heels when we saw them in very large numbers. They were shooting everywhere and chanting ‘Allahu Akhbar’.”

Bala said the insurgents did not kill anyone but were only interested in the foodstuff.

Bashir Isa, another driver, who was on his way from Biu, another community in Borno, said he was lucky to have escaped the armed men.

“On a normal day, they would have killed everyone in sight, but this time around, they came for food,” he said.

“I thank God that I didn’t run into him.”

A similar incident occurred on Bama road last year. Insurgents seized a truck conveying rice meant for IDPs.