Police, Boko Haram in shoot out in Yobe

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Nigerian Police, State News, Yobe Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Residents of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital were gripped with fear on Tuesday evening following sporadic gunshots by people suspected to be Boko Haram men. Sources said some gunmen believed to be members of the dreaded Islamic sect had ambushed some policemen along one of the bye-passes in the metropolis at about 6pm yesterday, a development which caused anxiety among residents as many who were yet to retire homes from their daily engagement did not know whether to hurry homes or stay where they were for an hour that the heavy shooting lasted.

Some residents who live around the area claimed the Boko Haram men had confronted the police for about an hour even as they said the policemen were compelled to beat a retreat when it dawned on them that they might record more casualty. But the Yobe Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abdulkadir Song, an assistant superintendent of police said rather their men had given the gunmen a hot chase. According to ASP Song, the Boko Haram men had launched an attack on the police at about 6pm on Monday, adding that the sporadic gunshots which lasted till about 7pm along the bye-pass from the police heaquaters and Potiskum road roundabout, emanated from the confrontation with the Boko Haram. The sect members were also said to be throwing explosive while shooting.

The PPRO said men from the Yobe Police command pursued the gunmen but regretted that they could not gun down any of the sect members. He said rather the gunmen fled. He said the sect had continued to ambush the police but warned that the police were ready to confront the Boko Haram men. He disclosed that the police was aware of the challenges of the Boko Haram menace but added that new measures to curtail the insurgences have been developed. He assured that the police were working seriously to nip the growing activities of the sect in the bud. He also assured the residents of security of lives and properties.

Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri has denied the killing of two soldiers by the Boko Haram men yesterday. Field Operations Oficer of the task force, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, said no soldier was killed though he had earlier denied having knowledge of any Boko Haram attack in the metropolis yesterday.

Sources claimed a navy personnel and another soldier attached to the JTF in Borno were killed during an attack by the dreaded Islamic sect within the city yesterday, a story which the JTF officer claimed he was unaware. He was to later reveal that two soldiers attached to the JTF were shot at by some gunmen suspected to be of Boko Haram, adding that the task force quickly responded and condoned off the area in order to go after with the culprits.

He said the wounded soldiers were receiving treatment in a hospital which he did not disclose. Daily Sun gathered reliably that doctors in the hospital were striving to save the lives of the wounded soldiers said to be in critical conditions.wp_posts