Buhari survives rocket scare in Maiduguri after Iswap launch rocket attacks during visit

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari survived a rocket scare in Maiduguri yesterday when terrorist sect the Islamic State of West Africa Province (Iswap) resorted to shelling the Borno State capital while he paid an official visit there.

Yesterday, President Buhari visited Maiduguri but hours before the visit, multiple explosions rocked the capital with rockets landing on many houses around the Ngomari, Bulumkutu and Ayafe neighbourhoods near the airport. Although the president was never in any real danger, security experts expressed concern over Iswap’s ability to fire rockets into Maiduguri.

In response to the shelling, military commanders deployed a large number of troops to confront Iswap and foil a possible attack by the terrorists. Inspector-general of police Usman Baba, said the ability of the terrorists to land rockets is concerning but added that they were unable to achieve their objectives.

Mr Baba said: “They are launching it in major towns, they are launching it in Maiduguri. It is a concern and it has been seriously checkmated. There are efforts to continuously checkmate it.”