By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

For the second consecutive Sunday, Boko Haram fighters today attacked Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State as they launched artillery bombardment and rocket propelled grenades into the city in a push to capture it.

They have, however, been successfully repelled by Nigerian troops stationed in the Borno State capital, although there are still pockets of shooting in some parts of the city.

A similar attack on the city was equally repelled by Nigerian troops last Sunday.

The insurgents are said to have launched a coordinated attack on Maiduguri from four parts of the parts of the town – Ngom, Dalwa, Mule and Jawuri.

Many of the insurgents were reportedly killed although an unspecified number of civilians are also believed to have been killed.

There is no information about casualties among the Nigerian troops.

The insurgents launched their attack as early as 6.00 am, forcing many Christians to stay away from church as sporadic shooting continued for hours until Nigerian soldiers succeeded in repelling the terrorists.

Many of them are said to have fled abandoning their weapons.