The attackers, shooting sporadically at anything in sight, arrived at about 7:20 a.m. Friday through an area called Fori, near the Army's main base called Giwa Barracks.
Their attack is believed to be a retaliation for the current pounding of the base of the insurgents in Sambisa, Barga and several others hidden in the savannah north and central parts of the state.
While residents in Maiduguri were preparing to go about their duties, they were greeted with heavy bullet sounds from the Giwa Barracks end of the town which is not very far from the State Government House and polo area.
Those who saw some of the attackers said they were dressed in military uniform.
Students at the University of Maiduguri also reported hearing sustained gunfire throughout the morning. The campus is near the barracks and it was not clear if the university was separately targeted.
An airforce jet fighter arrived exactly an hour after the attack started and has continued to drop bombs at targeted areas.
The major roads leading to major government facilities have been taken over by armed policemen.
Heavy shooting was still been heard at the time of this report while several soldiers living around the State hotel were seen dressing up with their bullet proof vests and jumping into their trucks to repel the assault which is believed to have started from a village close to the barracks.
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