by Isi Esene

Nine construction workers, working on Shehu of Borno Central Mosque, Maiduguri, Borno State, were yesterday murdered. They were reportedly slaughtered in their sleep. The reason for the killings could not be immediately confirmed.

The increased lack of security around Maiduguri has forced a few Islamic scholars to employ the services of security escorts in open pick-up vans filled with the Holy Qurans and loud speakers, appealing to the people not to kill their neighbours in the name of religion. They warned that anybody who killed his fellow human being would equally face destruction according to the Holy Quran.

Joint Task Force (JTF) Spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed the massacre of the construction workers in a statement, according to him, “Information available to JTF Operation Restore Order revealed that nine construction workers, working at the Shehu of Borno Central Mosque, were massacred by suspected terrorists at 1:45am today”

The colonel said the victims were living in a compound located at Bolori area of Maiduguri metropolis. He said the incident was reported to JTF at 6:05am. He added that JTF troops got to the area only to find the dead bodies had been deposited at the Borno State Specialist Hospital mortuary, Maiduguri. While no arrests had been made, he assured that efforts were on to apprehend the culprits.