TAIWO FAROTIMI 
As the death toll rises in the Saturday evening attack Damboa, Borno State, the military has had to debunk claims that the victims fell to friendly fire. This follows allegation that what happened was that the people at a picnic for the end of Ramadan in Abachari town near Damboa actually came under military attack.
They claim that the attack was a misguided missile from yet unexplained military operation. So why will the military open fire on the same people it was assigned to protect? That was the question on the lips of many.
Damian Chukwu, Borno State Commissioner of Police though confirmed that the venue was hit by explosion while people were celebrating, his statement did not clear the air on the real source of the explosion. However, Major General Rogers Nicholas, commander Operation Lafiya Dole ruled out the theory on military attack. He said his men would not hurt the same people they were deployed to protect. He therefore, said that contrary to the claims by the locals the explosion was not from the military artillery.
Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya, spokesman for the third armoured division was quoted as saying, ” Those deaths were not as a result of military action. It was as a result of suicide bombings”.
Some reports corroborate the claim by the military. Sources say that there were suicide bombings at the scene of the attack. And shortly after the bombings, just as sympathisers gathered, some missiles were shot into the crowd, increasing the casualty rate. The thinking of some residents is that Boko Haram operatives could still be fingered as being behind the barrage of attacks that followed the bombings.
They said the insurgents may have studied the sequence of events over time and realised that soon after the dust settles on a Bomb attack people always rallied round to save lives, while some others congregate to watch happenings.
The insurgent group has not claimed responsibility for the attack, which perhaps would have cleared doubts among the populace. But what is certain now is that the deaths toll has climbed beyond 30. Yet there are fears over the chances of those who were critically injured, some of who are being treated at the Maiduguri University Teaching Hospital.
