Defense Headquarters has refuted reports in the media that terrorists launched an attack on Maiduguri this morning, May 3, 2014.
In a statement signed by Major General Chris Olukolade released to the media today, May 3, 2014, the Nigerian military said that troops received a distress call in the early hours of the morning and launched a counter attack using mortar shells on a group of terrorists.
The statement reads:
There was no attack on Maiduguri metropolis as widely reported this morning by some media outlets especially a foreign television channel. Rather, on receiving distress call, troops at about 2am this morning launched a counter attack using mainly mortar shells on a group of terrorists who had attacked and killed four persons in Margimari village and other settlements in the outskirts of Maiduguri. There was no fighting or attack around the University or any barrack in Maiduguri either, as reported.
Also, Nigerian troops have arrested a Chadian, Usman Mecheka operating with the terrorists group around Lake Chad has been taken into custody by the Multi National Joint Task Force. He was apprehended by the Task Force while trying to extract a ransom from herdsmen and farmers in the area, after an earlier attack on the community.
Troops of the Special Task Force in the Plateau have also raided a camp maintained by an armed gang operating in a settlement in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. A gun fabricating machine as well as some arms and ammunition from the hideout were recovered during the raid.
Also recovered during the raid, were local single barrel guns, pistols, an automatic rifle, bullet pellets and a large quantity of materials for producing gun powder.
