Amnesty International on Friday stated that the coordinated attacks by Boko Haram that killed at least 17 people and injured 34 more on Wednesday night were “vicious, demonstrate a contemptible disregard for human life and the bloodiest so far this year.”
Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, in a statement, said Boko Haram must end its campaign of unlawful killings of civilians.
“These deplorable attacks took place at a time when Muslims were breaking their fast during the holy month of Ramadan and demonstrate complete disregard for human life
“The Nigerian authorities must do more to protect civilians and bring the actual perpetrators of all such attacks to justice, rather than sweeping up hundreds of suspects and holding them indefinitely in horrific, life-threatening conditions.”
AI recalled that the attacks started at around 6.30pm when Boko Haram fighters opened fire randomly in Jiddari Polo community in Maiduguri, one of the northern region’s biggest towns.
AI added that later, at around 9pm, four suicide bombers detonated explosive devices near the Lake Chad Basin Research Institute in Goni Kachallari area of the town.
Amnesty International said an eyewitness told the body that he heard four explosions, one very close-by.
It quoted the eyewitness as saying, “Two of my children, 13-year old twins, were injured by shrapnel. Some of the injuries were minor while some were serious like one whose nose was split.
“I quickly looked for pieces of cloth to tie the nose to prevent it from severing and to also stop the bleeding.”
The man said that he and his neighbours gave first aid to people who had been injured by the blast and accompanied them to hospital.
“In total, we brought 17 injured people to the hospital, mostly teenagers. Two died.”
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