More killings in Maiduguri

Three days after President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ordered the release of Boko Haram suspects in detention, a fresh wave of killings and kidnappings have been reported in Maiduguri the Borno state capital and epicentre of boko haram activities.

On Thursday in the evening a reknown shopkeeper , Mallam Yakubu Bitrus of Chez Coan corner along with his son and helper at his shop were shot dead in coldblood at his shop.

Mallam Yakubu had fled Maiduguri earlier when the Boko Haram sect members wrote a letter warning him to stop operating his shop and also to stop operating his Bread Bakery both located within the area.

He had been away for three months but when he heard that normalcy had returned to town following the commencement of dialogue with members of the sect, decided to return and take over his shop and Bakery.

A part six medical student at the University of Maiduguri whose name was not made known to our correspondent was also shot within the same area as he was robbed of his car.

Meanwhile three sons of a prominently Maiduguri businessman have been kidnapped and a ransome of 15 million naira has been demanded from the family by the kidnappers.

Speaking to our Correspondent on the killing of Mallam Yakubu the shopkeeper, an eyewitness to Mr. Simon Tizhe a relation said, " we had been made to believe that all the killings have stopped and that is why the president ordered the release of sudpects in detention but now we know better. We shall have to leave Maiduguri for good after they have succeeded in killing our brother and breadwinner of the family".

Commenting on recent wave of kidnappings by people suspected to be Boko Haram members, a security officer who does not want his name in print said, " iam sure things will normalise soon because security agents are working round the clock to arrest this ugly trend and I know that they will succeed because the public has began cooperating with them".

The Borno State Police Command could not be reached for comments as all GSM lines in Maiduguri are still down as at the time of filing this report.