UPDATE: “Boko Haram Attacks Maiduguri Air-Force Base, Sets Two Planes Ablaze

The deadly insurgency waged on some parts of northern Nigeria by members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram has assumed a new turn as members of the sect took their assault to an airport in Borno state.

The sect reportedly attacked the airport and set two aircraft parked at the airport ablaze.

Details of the attack and the affected aircraft however remains sketchy

Update: 11.50am:

We have just received an updated report that the actual attack took place at the Maiduguri Air-force.

A similar attack also was carried out by the sect at a Police Barracks in Maiduguri.

Both attacks said to be coordinated started at about 3am on Monday.

Army spokesman, Ibrahim Attahiru confirmed the Monday attacks which he said occurred near the city’s airport but could not give further details.

Update. 12.15pm:

Following the attacks, a 24 hours curfew has been imposed in Maiduguri with no air traffic allowed in or out of embattled Borno state.

“The Borno state government in consultation with (the military) has decided to impose a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri,” Borno’s capital, said state government secretary Baba Ahmed Jidda.

“The imposition of the curfew is necessitated by an attack in Maiduguri by people suspected to be Boko Haram members in the early hours of today.”

The military said the shutdown would help block militants from coordinating attacks but with no working mobile phone service, details of the conflict in the area have been difficult to verify.

The phone network has been down in Borno state since mid-May, when a state of emergency was declared in the area.

This latest attack by the sect put a doubt to the claim by the military that the state of emergency declared by President Jonathan in three northern states is yielding results and that the Islamist insurgents have been pushed into remote, more rural parts of the northeast.

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