30 die as blasts, gun duel rock Maiduguri

No fewer than 30 people were killed yesterday in Maiduguri when suspected members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, opened fire and set off bombs at Baga Fish market in the metropolis. Eight of the sect members were, however, killed in a gun duel with the Joint Task Force.
According to AFP report, traders at the market reported that gunmen believed to be members of the Islamic sect stormed the market and opened fire indiscriminately killing many of them, including women and children.
“The number of dead could not be less than 30,” a Maiduguri hospital nurse told AFP.
The military confirmed the assault on the market but denied any civilian deaths, saying security forces had killed eight assailants and safely defused bombs planted by the attackers.

Spokesman of the Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed said “at about 1:30 (1230 GMT) this afternoon at Baga Market of Maiduguri metropolis some gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked and shot civilians at the market. Several people had been wounded but there was no civilian death at this time. The military immediately came to the rescue and safely defused three bombs planted by members of the sect and shot dead eight members of the sect.”
However, one trader in the market who identified himself simply as Mairami said six gunmen stormed the food and commodities market and “opened fire indiscriminately. At least 30 people including women and children were killed.”
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