Students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) were in panic on Sunday as officers of the Nigerian military were trying to repel Boko Haram insurgents from gaining access into Maiduguri.
For the students, it was an eight-hour ordeal that sent cold shivers down their spines as the insurgents attempted to capture the city of Maiduguri through the Maiduguri-Damboa and Maidugri-Konduga axis of Borno State.
Reacting to the incident, a student of the Faculty of Law, Gayus Mustapha, said: “The first explosion I heard was around 4 a.m when I woke up to pray. But I went back to sleep, hoping that it was nothing. When I woke up again at 6a.m., it was something else, as the explosions were more frequent and close.”
Gun shots boomed for several hours and reverberating explosions were heard as soldiers battled to repel the insurgents. Christian students who were supposed to go for Sunday service at the University Chapel, which is located at the extreme eastern end of the university, deserted the venue, and only a few attended the service.
A student at the service who pleaded to be anonymous said, “I’m at the chapel because it makes no difference to stay back at the hostel. Explosions were still heard across the campus when we were in the service, but we were not deterred; it was just as if nothing was happening. We observed our regular order of service and we stayed till the usual time,” he explained.
Students who worshipped outside the campus observed that soldiers manning the university’s major gates disallowed entry and exit out of the university. And although everyone was going about their usual business, there was the consciousness that the university may be a victim of the attacks on the city.
When Campusbeats visited the Sardauna Male Hall, students were sitting in groups contemplating the cause of the explosions and what might happen next. Another student, Ayuba Yahaya, while speaking with Campusbeats said: “This is not the first time we had heard explosions like this, but this one was sinister.
“It was more than the usual and regular explosions. And when this kind of thing happens, fleeing is not a wise decision, because some people will be running away from where you are running to. That is why it is good to stay calm and observe the direction of the attack before you make any move.”
While recounting a similar experience, exactly two weeks ago, Jide Olatokun, a fresh student of the university, said: “We were discussing in our room around 11.30p.m. when we began to hear distant explosions. My roommates were awake too. Everywhere was dark; so we couldn’t see what was happening.
“It was not until after about 15 minutes that the loudest explosion went off. It was so close, and all we could do was to pick our identity cards and run out of the hostel towards another hostel. It is that bad,” he lamented.
The thought that maybe the insurgents would later invade the campus, because it was a weak point, unsettled many of the students. A second year student, Emmanuel Paul, said: “At times like this, it is good to be prepared. What used to be a casual experience can turn sour anytime. That is why I’m always ready.”
Many religious activities scheduled for that day (Sunday) were cancelled and students were seen trooping to their classrooms to prepare for their examinations the following day.
A final year student of the Faculty of Agriculture, Victor Ndekwe, who spoke with Campusbeats said: “One thing I have learnt in my experiences of the attacks is that explosions don’t make any difference here.
“If explosions rock neighbouring communities of the university at 2a.m., it won’t stop lectures slated for 8a.m. And the fact that there are explosions today does not mean that there won’t be examinations tomorrow. That is why despite this morning’s explosions, I am still in class tonight to prepare for my tomorrow exams.”
At the time of filing this report, students were going about their normal school activities and serenity had returned to the campus.
Isola Taiwo
(400-Level, Human Anatomy, University of Maiduguri)