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Three killed in gun battle in northeast Nigerian city: military

06 May 2012 02:26 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Three civilians were killed while two other people wounded following a gun battle between soldiers and members of the dreaded militants in the Nigerian northeast city of Maiduguri, military authority said on Saturday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The three civilians were shot when the military troops deployed to the area by the Nigerian Federal Government engaged the Boko Haram Islamic sect at a wedding ceremony in the metropolis.

Spokesman of the military-led Joint Task Force (JTF) Col Sagir Musa told Xinhua in Maiduguri that the task force received credible information that two Boko Haram members in the wanted list of the Task Force sneaked into Maiduguri to attend a wedding of one of their own in Sabon Layi, Gwange within the metropolis.

Consequently, at about 8:35, the Task Force mounted surveillance about 200 meters away from the wedding venue. The militants opened fire sporadically on the surveillance team, he said.

The spokesman said the development led to death of three civilians, with two wounded persons from the fire of the militants, adding that a total of eight of the Boko Haram suspects including one of the wanted kingpins of the sect were arrested at the area few hours after the face off.

Arms recovered, according to JTF, include one AK 47 rifle and 20 rounds of ammunition and a vehicle used by the sect. He also said two soldiers sustained injuries from gun-shot and were already receiving treatment.

He advised residents to shun wedding ceremony organized by Boko Haram members.