Just two hours to the commencement of the presidential and National Assembly elections, several bomb explosions have been heard from different locations Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
While the specific locations could not be established as of the time of writing this report, sources told Tribune Online that this has established palpable fear in the minds of those who wish to go out to vote.
Additionally, sources from 1,000 housing estate close to Jimtilo said the explosions sounded like artillery fire coming from foot soldiers testing their weapons while others told Tribune Online that there were between five and ten blasts.
“We heard up to five blasts when we went out to our mosques to pray but our imam insisted we conclude our prayers and wait for proactive response from the security services.
“We think these are suicide bombers who infiltrated the city before the flag off of the election knowing that this is the only day this year when people will gather in crowded areas to vote” said a civilian JTF source.
Others who spoke on phone said it was the military testing their fire power and readiness for the special event.
The spokespeeson of the military could not be reached before writing this report but similar attacks were equally heard in neighbouring Geidam hometown of the Governor of Yobe State who is contesting to become a senator of Nigeria.
No report on casualties on both sides yet.
Meanwhile a surveillance helicopter has been going about the different surbubs of of the city.
and then