A leader of local self-defence militia, Babakura Kolo, said Boko Haram’s attack on Maiduguri kill 16 people, including nine children who were playing football in a field.
The state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, previously said 10 people were killed and 47 were injured in yesterday attack when the fighters fired rocket-propelled grenades on the densely-populated city.
Boko Haram has previously made incursions into Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, using heavy guns and suicide bombers.
Kolo added that in one of the neighbourhoods affected, Gwange, nine boys were killed when one of the explosives landed in a field where they were playing football.
Another militiaman, Umar Ari, gave the same death toll and said it could still rise as many were injured.
Eyewitness Sama’ila Ibrahim said the fighters crossed the ditch fortification around Maiduguri, sending residents scrambling for safety with sporadic shooting.
