"There are fears that this attack might mark the beginning of a series
of Boko Haram attacks during the Christmas period" says Fr. Gideon
Obasogie, Director of Social Communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri,
the capital of the Nigerian state of Borno, where on Sunday,
December 11, at least one person was killed and others wounded in a
double suicide attack carried out by two girls in the main market of the
city."Attacks of this kind seem to be a reprisal of Boko Haram for the reconquest by the Nigerian army of areas of northern Nigeria that were under the control of the Islamist sect. It is also a way to encourage their members not to give in, showing that they are still able to hit in a big city like ours", said Fr. Gideon.
"The people of Maiduguri has become much more cautious and try to avoid the main market, making purchases in smaller shops, just to avoid an area which is usually very crowded and an easy target of the attacks. In general we try to avoid crowded areas because there are fears that Boko Haram has adopted the strategy of indiscriminate attacks against civilians to prove they are still alive and well, despite the blows suffered", said the priest.