Nigeria on Wednesday imposed tight movement restrictions in the
restive northeast after Boko Haram bombings that killed more than 100
raised fears of fresh attacks over the Eid al-Adha festival.
The
military said the use of all vehicles would be banned throughout Borno
state during the Muslim festival, which is known as Sallah in Nigeria
and marked with two days' public holiday from Thursday.
"All
movements using vehicles, bicycles and animals like horses, camels and
donkeys in Maiduguri will be restricted as from Wednesday 17:00," said
army spokesperson Tukur Gusau.
"Similarly, all vehicular movements
into and out of Maiduguri... will also be restricted within the period
until further notice," he added in a statement.
Only
ambulances, police and other essential services will be able to use
vehicles during the ban. Everyone else will have to walk.
Robust security
The
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) meanwhile announced 40
000 personnel would be deployed across the country "to provide maximum
security" during the festival.
Federal police chief Solomon Arase promised "robust security" in "all nooks and crannies in the country".
Maiduguri,
the capital of Borno state, was on Sunday hit by a series of bomb
blasts, including at a mosque where dozens of worshippers were killed by
a female suicide bomber.
The Borno state police put the death
toll at 54 but three sources at two hospitals in the city said later
they had received 117 bodies at their mortuaries.
The army blamed
the attack on Boko Haram, calling it a sign of "desperation" by the
Islamist militants as a military counter-offensive squeezes them out of
captured territory and camps.
The security restrictions recognise
that Boko Haram has previously hit "soft" civilian targets such as
crowded markets, mosques, churches and bus stations.
Suicide and bomb attacks
The
NSCDC said places of worships, markets and schools would be protected
as well as critical infrastructure such as telecommunications masts and
oil pipelines.
In Maiduguri itself, Sunday's attacks - the worst
on the city since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in May,
vowing to crush the insurgency - provoked widespread fear and tension.
"I
am afraid. I am not going to any mosque to observe the Eid prayers
because nobody is sure. Anything can happen," said resident Sanusi
Modibbo.
"The prayer is mandatory. I will just remain at home and slaughter my ram at the appointed time."
At
the city's Monday Market, which has been hit repeatedly by suicide and
bomb attacks, trader Yusuf Abuya said he had been closed all week.
"I deliberately locked my shop and forfeited the Sallah sales because I am afraid of the unknown," he said.
"The terrorists always look for soft targets and I don't want to take unnecessary risks," he said.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Security increased in NE Nigeria over Boko Haram Eid fears
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