Violence again erupted in Borno State, Saturday, as suspected Boko Haram gunmen attacked Damboa town, Borno State, using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs.
Five residents were killed at a mosque while the residence of the District Head and shops were torched.
Damboa is 87 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital.
Speaking, Saturday, on the incident in Maiduguri, spokesman of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Capt. Aliyu Ibrahim Danja, said that about 15 Boko Haram suspects were killed in the early hours of Saturday, while troops of 21 Brigade repelled gunmen at a mosque and at the palace of the District Head in Damboa.
He disclosed that arms and ammunition were recovered from the terrorists, including a rocket-propelled grenade tube, two rocket-propelled grenade bombs, five Kalashnikov rifles, a pick-up van and assorted ammunition.
Danja said: “The terrorists sneaked into the town at about 4.30am today, and attacked worshippers at a mosque, killing five of them who had come to perform morning prayers. They also set ablaze the official residence and palace of the District Head alongside some shops.
“While they were unleashing the mayhem, troops of 7 Division engaged the terrorists, killing 15 in the process while others fled in disarray. Efforts are on to trace and destroy the fleeing suspects.”
Meanwhile, troops have commenced air and ground bombardment of Boko Haram training camps and hideouts in Borno and Yobe States
Speaking on Friday in Damaturu, spokesman of 3 Division of Special Operation Battalion, Capt. Eli Lazarus, disclosed that aerial operations in the hunt for fleeing sect members is being extended to the Borno forest border in Goniri and Sasawa Games Reserves.
Another military source told The Guardian: “There is air bombardment on Boko Haram camps. Troops are also combing the Benisheik-Damboa axis in Borno with Goniri, Gujba Local Government in Yobe State.”
In a related development, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State on Friday urged international donor agencies that relocated from Damaturu, the state capital, as a result of the insurgency, to return and continue with their “humanitarian and philanthropic activities,” as peace is being restored.
He made the plea during the donation of medical equipment worth N288 million to the state government by the Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunisation in Northern Nigeria and Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PRRINN-MNCH) at the Government House, Damaturu.
The governor, who appreciated the efforts of PRRINN-MNCH at improving maternal child health in the state, also called on the Department for International Development (DFID) to return to the state and ensure full take-off of the Support to National Malaria Programme (SUNMAP).
He also regretted the relocation of the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) from Yobe State. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com