This was disclosed by counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama in a Twitter post.
There was pandemonium on Monday as a popular crime group known as Marlian boys clashed in Maiduguri, Borno State, burning shops and injuring many.
This was disclosed by counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama in a Twitter post.
According to him, the criminal group is known for attacking citizens and snatching their mobile phones and other belongings, a situation which resulted in loss of several lives and severe injuries inflicted on innocent citizens in the state.
“The Marlian group has been engaging in several clashes with different cult groups battling for control,” Zagazola tweeted.
It was gathered that the latest encounter occurred on Monday at about 12:15pm when the criminal groups armed with machetes set fire to a shop and destroyed property at Maiduguri, Bolori 2, IVO behind Covid-19 Isolation Centre.
The shop owner, a local hunter, fled while residents in the area were forced to scamper for safety.
“The attack is supposedly a reprisal against the shop owner, as the owner and a member of the criminal group fought around 0000hrs this morning. During an altercation, the shop owner stabbed and killed a member of the criminal group.
“Recall that, disturbed by the spate of urban gangsterism perpetrated by the criminal gangs, residents of Maiduguri have been demanding for aggressive action from the security agencies against the group.
“Several arrests were made in the past but the group was recently growing in numbers and have been recruiting more members into their fold.
“The unrest may also generally escalate in the surrounding area, with risk to bystanders. The fire may also spread,” the counter-insurgency expert and security analyst stated.