•MOPOL commander, assistant, others killed in
Boko Haram-security operatives gun duel in Damaturu
• 11 killed in Borno multiple explosions, shooting
• Police make cash donation to slain police officers’ families
• Residents flee
From ABU ONYELEBOCHO, Damaturu, TIMOTHY OLA, Maiduguri and DESMOND MGBOH, Kano
Saturday December 24, 2011
Boko Haram-security operatives gun duel in Damaturu
• 11 killed in Borno multiple explosions, shooting
• Police make cash donation to slain police officers’ families
• Residents flee
From ABU ONYELEBOCHO, Damaturu, TIMOTHY OLA, Maiduguri and DESMOND MGBOH, Kano
Saturday December 24, 2011
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Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Ahead of Christmas tomorrow, the gun battle between security operatives and members of the Boko Haram sect yesterday took devastating dimension in Damaturu, Yobe State, with the killing of no fewer than 50 people.
This is coming at a time about 11 people have been killed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital in multiple explosions.
In the Damaturu incident, it was gathered the gun duel, which started around 2.30pm on Thursday and continued till the time of filing this report yesterday, has claimed the lives Officer-in-Charge (O/C) of MOPOL in Damaturu, Ibrahim Mohammed and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (A/C), Operations, Ibrahim Abubakar.
Following the intensity of the gun battle, more military personnel have been deployed to Damaturu and Potiskum. All streets in the capital city were yesterday deserted except for amoured cars, armed soldiers, policemen and other security.
Saturday Sun gathered many people have vacated their homes and have taken abode in mosques in Damaturu, fearing that full military operations would commence any moment.
Checks revealed that an announcement have been made for people to vacate the Pompomari area of Damaturu, hence the military have condoned off the area believed to be the hideout of many of the Boko Haram members.
The Commissioner of Police, Tanko Lawal could not be reached as his phones were not responding to calls.
In a related development, no fewer than 11 people were killed yesterday in various parts of Maiduguri metropolis following multiple explosions and shootings by members of the Boko Haram sect, barely two hours after similar attacks were launched in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
The Islamic sect had launched deadly offensive with improvised explosives in some areas and churches, including a church at Yan’tebura, Bulukuntu Tsallake, United Evangelical Church at Timber Market along Baga road and Damboa road within the metropolis at about 6pm on Thursday leaving in their wake scores of dead persons.
Sources said about 20 people died in the attack though military authorities claimed two people lost their lives.
Hospital attendance also confirmed that 11 corpses were brought to the mortuary, including a pastor and his child killed at a church in Dala.
The Boko Haram men were said to have stormed the church premises at dusk and fired several shots at the pastor and his family members. The pastor and one of his children, however, lost their lives during the attack.
An official at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) morgue confirmed to the reporter that four corpses were brought to the mortuary on Thursday night, adding that seven more corpses were admitted at the morgue at about 11 am yesterday.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, Lt. Colonel Hassan Mohammed, said two deaths were recorded. He said Boko Haram targeted some areas within the metropolis with improvised explosive devices, adding that two people died from the incident. He also disclosed that the task force was yet to arrest any suspects in connection with the blasts.
Residents were gripped with fears for about two hours that the offensive lasted, even as many areas known for bustling commercial activities at dusk were compelled to shut down their activities.
“When I first heard the blast, I thought it was the usual one, but the other blasts that followed scared me and I had to close my recharge card shop immediately,” a shop operator told Saturday Sun.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police yesterday made a cash donation of N500,000 to the immediate families of three police officers killed in last week’s duel with the suspected members of Boko Haram in the state capital.
The Police, in addition, rewarded each of the deceased officers with a Posthumous Heroic award for their gallantry, just as they extended N250, 000 to the Special Constabulary (SPY), who was also killed in the course of the bitter confrontation.
The five affected police officers, who are still on admission in the hospital, were given N145,000, each to help them cope with the challenges of recuperating.
Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at the Bompai headquarters of the Command in Kano, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idris K. Ibrahim, said that the officers were killed not because they had anything personal with their assailants, but because they represented the face of the authorities and the goals of the nation.
SOURCE: The Sun, 24 December 2011. http://sunnewsonline.com/
This is coming at a time about 11 people have been killed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital in multiple explosions.
In the Damaturu incident, it was gathered the gun duel, which started around 2.30pm on Thursday and continued till the time of filing this report yesterday, has claimed the lives Officer-in-Charge (O/C) of MOPOL in Damaturu, Ibrahim Mohammed and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (A/C), Operations, Ibrahim Abubakar.
Following the intensity of the gun battle, more military personnel have been deployed to Damaturu and Potiskum. All streets in the capital city were yesterday deserted except for amoured cars, armed soldiers, policemen and other security.
Saturday Sun gathered many people have vacated their homes and have taken abode in mosques in Damaturu, fearing that full military operations would commence any moment.
Checks revealed that an announcement have been made for people to vacate the Pompomari area of Damaturu, hence the military have condoned off the area believed to be the hideout of many of the Boko Haram members.
The Commissioner of Police, Tanko Lawal could not be reached as his phones were not responding to calls.
In a related development, no fewer than 11 people were killed yesterday in various parts of Maiduguri metropolis following multiple explosions and shootings by members of the Boko Haram sect, barely two hours after similar attacks were launched in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
The Islamic sect had launched deadly offensive with improvised explosives in some areas and churches, including a church at Yan’tebura, Bulukuntu Tsallake, United Evangelical Church at Timber Market along Baga road and Damboa road within the metropolis at about 6pm on Thursday leaving in their wake scores of dead persons.
Sources said about 20 people died in the attack though military authorities claimed two people lost their lives.
Hospital attendance also confirmed that 11 corpses were brought to the mortuary, including a pastor and his child killed at a church in Dala.
The Boko Haram men were said to have stormed the church premises at dusk and fired several shots at the pastor and his family members. The pastor and one of his children, however, lost their lives during the attack.
An official at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) morgue confirmed to the reporter that four corpses were brought to the mortuary on Thursday night, adding that seven more corpses were admitted at the morgue at about 11 am yesterday.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, Lt. Colonel Hassan Mohammed, said two deaths were recorded. He said Boko Haram targeted some areas within the metropolis with improvised explosive devices, adding that two people died from the incident. He also disclosed that the task force was yet to arrest any suspects in connection with the blasts.
Residents were gripped with fears for about two hours that the offensive lasted, even as many areas known for bustling commercial activities at dusk were compelled to shut down their activities.
“When I first heard the blast, I thought it was the usual one, but the other blasts that followed scared me and I had to close my recharge card shop immediately,” a shop operator told Saturday Sun.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police yesterday made a cash donation of N500,000 to the immediate families of three police officers killed in last week’s duel with the suspected members of Boko Haram in the state capital.
The Police, in addition, rewarded each of the deceased officers with a Posthumous Heroic award for their gallantry, just as they extended N250, 000 to the Special Constabulary (SPY), who was also killed in the course of the bitter confrontation.
The five affected police officers, who are still on admission in the hospital, were given N145,000, each to help them cope with the challenges of recuperating.
Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at the Bompai headquarters of the Command in Kano, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idris K. Ibrahim, said that the officers were killed not because they had anything personal with their assailants, but because they represented the face of the authorities and the goals of the nation.
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