4 Killed & MTN Office Maiduguri Set On Fire By Suspected Terrorist

ONE week after men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) raided a house of suspected key Commander of the Boko Haram sect where they recovered 54 assorted GSM Sim Cards among other arms and ammunitions in Dala ward of Maiduguri metropolis, some people suspected to be terrorists have set ablaze the Regional office of MTN and nine telecommunication masts belonging to different companies, even as four people alleged to be Igbos were also killed in Gwange ward.

It would be recalled that early this year, the Boko Haram sect had issued a statement that the telecommunication industry in Nigeria is one of their target.

Our Correspondent gathered that the MTN regional office in West- End area, along Baga road of Maiduguri metropolis was set ablaze at about 2am on Wednesday, the office houses all the communication facilities of the frontline GSM operators in the country.

Also set ablaze Wednesday are the telecommunication Masts in Dala, Bulunkutu, Bayan Quarters, Gwange, Sulimanti, Bolori, Adam Kolo and Bulabulin wards of the metropolis.

An eye witness who does not want his name mentioned in the print told our Reporter that the Bulumkutu mast was burnt down by some armed youths at about 8pm on Tuesday.

In a related development, four people suspected to be Igbos were killed by some terrorists who invaded a house occupied by Yorubas and Igbos.

A neighbour of the four people killed old newsmen that they had a strange voice, crying for help, in the house where some of the deceased were staying, but to no avail, as the 9pm curfew could not allow them to see what was happening.

He said, until on Wednesday morning when the news filtered from the house that four people were killed in the neighbouring house.

Confirming the incident, the JTF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa in a telephone interview with our Correspondent confirmed the burning of MTN Office and some masts in Maiduguri, but denied any killing in the state.

Sagir said, ” I can only confirm to you that some telecommunication masts and MTN Regional office were set ablaze by suspected Boko Haram sect, but I am not aware of any killing in Gwange, please give me time, as soon as I get details I will communicate to you”. He said.