5 Boko Haram militants shot dead in Iraq

According to BasNews, the dead militants were Boko Haram members being trained in Mosul by the Islamic State (IS).

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Mosul spokesperson, Saed Mamuzini, told BasNews that the Mosul Youth Resistance Movement, which was recently formed to act against IS in Mosul, attacked the Boko Haram insurgents in the Dargaza neighbourhood of eastern Mosul on Wednesday, killing five of them.

“The Nigerian Boko Haram militants were in Mosul to take part in a military training course conducted by Islamic State (IS),” Mamuzini added.

Boko Haram had pledged allegiance to IS some months ago and appears to be in close co-operation with the group ever since. This is the first report of the presence of Boko Haram militants in Iraq.

Meanwhile, security sources said yesterday the insurgents used female suicide bombers as shield in Wednesday’s failed attack on Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

A military source, who participated in the operation to repel the attack on the city, also told Daily Sun that the female bombers “pretended as if they were residents of the community behind Giwa Barracks of the Nigerian Army and fleeing from the battle-field.”

Some members of the Civilian JTF (youth vigilante), who were also on ground to repel the insurgents reportedly saw some women near the battlefield, begging for help. The Civilian JTF members led by some troops were said to have moved in to save the women unknown to them that they were suicide bombers.

“Some of the women started exploding one-after-the-other,” a military source said on condition of anonymity. The explosion from the female bombers killed about nine of the women, six Civilian JTF members and some other civilians, another source said. He said some soldiers were also injured even as speculation was rife in Maiduguri that the military lost  some of its personnel.

But Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, told Daily Sun that the Army “did not lose any soldier.” However, a 24 hours curfew has been imposed on the city yesterday following Wednesday’s dusk attack.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations (DDAPR),

7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Colonel Tukur Gusau, said the curfew was imposed in view of the security problem.

“In view of the recent development within Maiduguri metropolis, a 24-hour curfew is hearby imposed on the city. This is done to protect lives and property of innocent and law abiding people of maiduguri,” the military said.

The military thanked residents for their “continuous support and co-operation,” adding that “the situation is firmly under control.”