Scores feared dead as B’Haram attacks Yobe police station

Boko Haram members
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Some members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect on Thursday launched a ferocious attack on the Misebiri Police Station, ‘B’ Division, Damaturu, the Yobe State Capital.

Investigations revealed that the Boko Haram members gained access to the police station through the bush surrounding the city.

Unconfirmed source said the attack led to the death of some people on both sides.

A military source said majority of those killed were Boko Haram members.

It was learnt that the insurgents avoided the military base at the entrance into Damaturu from Borno and three other military checkpoints along the Damaturu-Maiduguri Highway by passing through bush parts to carry out the attack, which was still going on as at the time of filing this report (9.35pm).

It was further learnt that the Boko Haram members had made several attempts to penetrate the Yobe State capital, Damaturu, but were frustrated by the Special Forces.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said that the gun battle between the combined team of the police and troops of the Nigerian Army started at about 6.30pm and was still on as at 9.35pm.

The attack took security operatives by surprise as they were not expecting the insurgents to attack the police station which had not witnessed such an attack before.

It was learnt that security operatives were kept on their toes and were scampering to defend the various formations within the city.

A source said that heavy artillery fire was heard in the fighting between the insurgents and the Special Forces.

As at 9.35pm, security sources said that the insurgents were still engaging troops and the police in a shootout.

When our correspondent contacted the spokesman of the Joint Task Force in Yobe, Lt. Lazarus Eli, he said that he did not have details of the attack.

He said that he was waiting to get the details from those who went for the operation before responding to inquiries from journalists.

However, he said that the incident occurred by NNPC Mega Station by Red Bricks and not inside Damaturu town.

He said that he was not aware of the attack on the said police station but could only speak when he had been briefed by those who went for the operation.

“I don’t have details, our troops are not back yet, I am waiting to get details before I can speak on this issue to anybody.

“This incident occurred at the outskirt, Boko Haram members have not entered Damaturu now, I think it happened by the mega station, by Red Bricks.

“Unless I have information from the troops who went there, I cannot comment on it,” he said.

PUNCH