The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Damaturu

  • Normalcy returns to Damaturu amidst panic

    Normalcy returns to Damaturu amidst panic

    …mass exodus hit Damturu

    Normalcy is gradually returning to Damaturu, the Yobe  state capital after the 24 hours curfew imposed  on the town following the Monday attack was relaxed by 11 hrs.

    But panic and fear still rent the air with all kinds of rumors of another impending attack.

    Many residents are also leaving town with their families either to their villages or other safe cities in the country.

    Some travelers were sighted on the Potiskum-Kano road, while other routes, apart from Gujba road, which leads to the stronghold of the insurgents have remained busy with vehicular and human movement.

    The three major motor parts in Damaturu have also remained busy with travelers heading to different locations where our correspondent visited.

    Residents who are almost running out of foodstuffs in their homes trooped out to the markets to make purchases and top-up their food stocks before the curfew will come in force  in the evening.

    Some of the residents who spoke with our correspondent expressed shock over the level of attack on the town but however praised the bravely of the Nigerian soldiers for containing the fire of the insurgents whom according to them were successfully repelled.

    Shaibu Musa a civil servant said that he was pleased that the soldiers stayed to fight instead of stories from the other parts of the country where soldiers reportedly run for their lives in the wake of attacks.

    “I am with what I saw. Contrary from what we have been hearing from other places that soldiers usually run away from this kind of attacks, the soldiers here were brave. They stood their grounds and fought very well to repel the insurgents. The jet that came from to help them did a very nice job. We salute the soldiers for keeping Damaturu for us,” Musa stated.

  • Boko Haram: Curfew imposed on Damaturu

    A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Damaturu, the Yobe capital, following Monday’s attacks on the town by insurgents.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Press Affairs and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

    The statement said the curfew took immediate effect.

    It said Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam approved the order in consultations with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.

    It said the decision was taken as part of measures to “enable the security agents who did a great job repelling the insurgents’ attack on the town, to conclude their ongoing assignment’’.

    The release advised all residents of the city to remain indoors during the curfew, and thanked the people of the state for their cooperation and support to the security agencies.

    NAN reports that gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents had attacked the state capital resulting in a gun battle between them and security operatives that lasted for several hours.

    Gov.Gaidam condemned the attack, describing it as “heinous and barbaric” and said that the onslaught had been repelled.

    Details of the operation are still being awaited.

     

  • Damaturu under siege by Boko Haram

    Damaturu under siege by Boko Haram

    Men of the dreaded Boko Haram sect Monday morning invaded Damaturu the Yobe State Capital.

    The insurgents who came into the town at about 5am from the Gujba axis south east of the town were shooting sporadically and detonating explosives.

    Our correspondent, who was running out of his house in Jerusalem area along with other thousands of residents heard more than five explosions with deafening sound in the air.

    Residents of Jerusalem and Pawari bye pass along Gujba road have all deserted their house for safety.

    The Yobe State University is reportedly under attack, but there was no report of casualties.

  • Boko Haram: Damaturu after traders’ ban

    Boko Haram: Damaturu after traders’ ban

    Wheelbarrow-hawkers and roadside shops have been banned at four major roads in the Yobe State capital, Damaturu, after the Joint Military Force (JTF) said they found that Boko Haram fighters were using them to foment trouble. The roads are Potiskum Road, Gashua Road, Maiduguri Road and Gujba Road. The ban also affected all makeshift shops and fruit sellers.

    How did the traders take clampdown? Not very kindly, and their reaction has caught the attention of the state government which wants to pacify the traders and also ensure peace in the capital and state.

    The directive which was disseminated by the state Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture and the local radio station (YBC) asked all concerned to comply with it or face the wrath of the law.

    While the JTF maintained that it was a hard decision to take, it also stressed the necessity to ensure the safety of life and property in the state.

    The directive, however, took most residents by surprise and elicited angry reactions from some of the traders who were prepared for a showdown with the security operatives.

    Investigations by The Nation revealed that opinions were divided over the decision of the JTF especially at this critical time when a lot of people have been forced into menial jobs and petty trading from their former businesses which were either lost to Boko Haram attacks or abandoned in the same vein.

    Some residents who spoke with The Nation described the decision as “harsh and hasty, unreasonable and insensitive,” stressing that it will create more problems than it will solve. Some others feel the decision of the JTF is for the good of the people.

    A resident who identified himself simply as Hamisu, said, “I am not a security man but I want to believe that in any decision that these people (security) take, there must be something they know that we don’t know. And maybe it’s because of such a thing they would come up with this kind of decision. It looks harsh but it’s going to benefit us in the long run, I believe”.

    Another resident who sells fruits along Gujba Road but does not want his name in print, said, “This is a very harsh decision on the common people. It is hasty, unreasonable and insensitive to the plight of the poor people. How can we feed our families without this kobo-kobo that we are getting from this petty market? If they drive us away then where are we going to, join Boko Haram or what?

    The complaints of the people did not fall on deaf ears as the state government apart from asking the JTF to temporarily suspend the directives set up a high-powered committee comprising the trade unions and other relevant stakeholders including Damaturu local government officials as well as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state. The committee which is headed by the State Commissioner for Environment Alh. Idi Barde Gubana  among other things is tasked with the responsibility of getting an alternative market for the traders before the full enforcement of the JTF orders.

    As part of efforts to ensure strict compliance of the directive in future, the committee to move to find alternative place for those who will be affected by the directive. The committee has bege. Inspecting some open sites within the state capital with a  view to establishing a new market for the traders who are due to be sacked by the time the ban takes effect.

    The Committee Chairman told the traders that the stage government was concerned about their plight and is taking measures to ensure that the unnecessary suffering is avoided. He emphasised that the military directive is in the interest of peace for all and called on the people to comply with the order as without peace, “no business activity will be carried out in the first place”

    He said: “The Yobe State government is concerned that so many residents will be jobless as a result of the ban hence the need to plead with the security forces for extension of the dateline to find an alternative location for the various hawkers to enable them carryout their lawful business activities before enforcing the ban. We therefore beg you to be law abiding by cooperating with security operatives in the search for lasting peace which is a veritable ingredient for any meaningful development to strive”, he said

    He also disclosed that his committee will speedily ensure that everything is put in place and nobody who intends to carryout legitimate business in the state will suffer. He however warned hoodlums who would want to take advantage of the situation to breach the peace of the state, while calling on traders to report any suspicious character among them.

    The chairman Damaturu Local Government Alhaji Kalli Mohammed also asked the traders to give their maximum support to the government for being considerate to their plight. He pledge the support of his council  towards the  actualization of  the dream of an ultra modern  market in the state capital, while calling on the traders to take advantage of the grace period to fix themselves awaiting the orders.

    The chairman, Damaturu Marketers Association, Alhaji Usman Mu’azu expressed gratitude to Yobe state government for sourcing for an alternative location for the traders and extension of time on the order by the military and assured of adequate sensitization of   his members. On his part, the Chairman of NURTW Yobe State Hussaini Ibrahim advised government to take advantage of the existing Sunday Market in the metropolis that is lying fallow instead of getting an entirely new place that may cost more money for the government. “We have gone round and seeing places but our advice is that Yobe State government can facelift the Sunday Market which has enough land to accommodate every trader in Damaturtu. “It will be cost effective for the government to follow this advice than sourcing for an entirely a new plot of land for a market which may cost millions of naira in either compensation or construction. The Sunday Market in our opinion is the best option for the government to explore at the moment especially because of the urgency of this matter”, he said.

    However, It is not clear at the moment how long the grace of the extension of the order by the JTF on the ban on hawking in the metropolis would last as the military have kept mute over the issue for now. Many traders(hawkers) is the state are now jubilating over the state government intervention on the ban, not forgetting also how urgent the state government is prepared to provide an adhoc market for them. A security source mentioned in confidence that, “we will monitor the situation and see how fast the state government could act on their promises. But if we discover that it will affect our operations, we will go ahead with our plans”. This is not the first time the JTF is banning hawking in the state. In the last two years, such a directive was issued to beggars and hawkers especially carrying out their trades close to security points but those orders were flaunted.

     

  • Huge turnout at Eid-el-Kabir prayers in Yobe

    THERE was huge turnout of worshippers in Damaturu at different Eid praying grounds despite apprehension of a possible attack by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The expansive Yobe Islamic Centre recorded an unprecedented crowd of worshippers.

    Other Eid grounds at 3 bedroom Gujba road, Waziri Ibrahim, Phase I, Nayinawa, Ben Kalio Housing Estate and Zanna Zakaria Estates all within Damaturu metropolis were also filled with worshippers.

    Security operatives were on ground to ensure strict compliance with the restriction of vehicular movements to Eid praying grounds.

    To avoid trekking for long distances, worshippers decided to observe their prayers at praying grounds closer to their homes.

    Amidst tight security, the Deputy Governor, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, in company of the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other members of the State Executive Council joined other thousands of worshippers at the Yobe Mosque and Islamic Centre to observe the two Rakat prayers.

    There were strict checks and screening of worshippers by stern- looking security agents before access to the expansive arena of the Yobe Mosque was granted.

    In his sermon, Imam Algoni Mohammed called on the privileged in the society to take special care of orphans and the needy, adding that “Allah rewards greatly those who take special care of the need.”

    Reports across the state indicated a peaceful sallah celebration at the time of filling this report.

    Some of the worshippers expressed gratitude to Allah for keeping them to see the day.

     

  • Huge turnout at Eid-el-Kabir prayers in Yobe

    THERE was huge turnout of worshippers in Damaturu at different Eid praying grounds despite apprehension of a possible attack by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The expansive Yobe Islamic Centre recorded an unprecedented crowd of worshippers.

    Other Eid grounds at 3 bedroom Gujba road, Waziri Ibrahim, Phase I, Nayinawa, Ben Kalio Housing Estate and Zanna Zakaria Estates all within Damaturu metropolis were also filled with worshippers.

    Security operatives were on ground to ensure strict compliance with the restriction of vehicular movements to Eid praying grounds.

    To avoid trekking for long distances, worshippers decided to observe their prayers at praying grounds closer to their homes.

    Amidst tight security, the Deputy Governor, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, in company of the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other members of the State Executive Council joined other thousands of worshippers at the Yobe Mosque and Islamic Centre to observe the two Rakat prayers.

    There were strict checks and screening of worshippers by stern- looking security agents before access to the expansive arena of the Yobe Mosque was granted.

    In his sermon, Imam Algoni Mohammed called on the privileged in the society to take special care of orphans and the needy, adding that “Allah rewards greatly those who take special care of the need.”

    Reports across the state indicated a peaceful sallah celebration at the time of filling this report.

    Some of the worshippers expressed gratitude to Allah for keeping them to see the day.

     

  • ‘Foiled suicide attack would have been devastating’

    ‘Foiled suicide attack would have been devastating’

    The police in Yobe State have said the impact of Sunday’s botched attack on A Division Police Station in Damaturu would have been “most devastating and disastrous”.

    Abubakar Umar drove a blue Chevrolet van laden with explosives to the station.

    Inspector Mohammed Danladi of the Bomb Disposal Unit, who deactivated  six explosive laden cylinders, said the cylinders, if exploded, would have wrecked havoc on buildings within the radius of 500 metres.

    Danladi said the explosives were 20 minutes from exploding, when the anti-bomb squad diffused the bombs.

    His words: “If they had gone off, there would have been serious damage to the environment for about 500 metres radius.

    “This means the police station, behind the station, parts of this roundabout, north, east, west south would have been reduced to rubbles.

    “This is the first  huge bomb that we have discovered since the insurgency started.

    “One of these has an impact of about 10 times what we recovered before. We have never seen this type before.

    “There was an alternative for the boy to detonate the bomb. He was timed an hour before he took off from his base but there was a command wire that he was supposed to have connected himself.

    “If that failed, he could have abandoned the vehicle and when the timer expired, the bomb would have gone off.

    “The content of these cylinders was dynamites that the insurgents must have stolen from construction companies.”

    Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufai said the suspect was blind-folded from Talala in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State to Goniri in Gujba Local Government, where he received the “command” to come to Damaturu.

    Rufai said the suspect reportedly confessed that he was chosen for the job because he was not married.

    The commissioner said the suspect confirmed that there was another car laden with explosives, which is at large.

    He said: “The suspect said he was chosen because he was not married and that when he kills people he will go to paradise.

    “After interrogation, he confessed that they are about 200 in their camp in the bush and he does not know the name of the place but they receive instruction from their leader at Sambisa forest.

    “We are going to hand him over to the Joint Task Force (JTF) with our findings so that they can continue where we stopped.”

  • Police foil suicide attack in Yobe

    Police foil suicide attack in Yobe

    The Police in Yobe state has foiled what could have been a deadly attack on A Division Police Station at the central roundabout in Damaturu, the State capital.

    According to the State Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufai, one 19 years old Abubakar Umar drove a Blue Chevrolet pick-up van into the sandbags in front of the station with the intention of blowing up the station and killing many police men.

    “In the early hours of today (Sunday), one Abubakar Umar 19 years, a suicide bomber attempted to bomb the A Division Police Station Damaturu. He was driving in a blue rickety Chevrolet pick-up van in a suspicious manner.

    “The vigilant policemen on duty immediately noticed his suspicious movement and fired some warning shots when the suicide bomber ran on the sandbags in front of the police station and he was arrested.

    “After serious interrogation by the police, Abubakar Umar confessed that he is a Boko Haram and his mission to Damaturu was to come and bomb the police station and kill as many policemen as he can,” Rufai stated.

    CP Rufai also informed that “the vehicle was carrying animal dung apparently as a decoy of concealing the explosives from prowling eyes of security agents”.

    Speaking on the items recovered in the botched attack, CP Sanusi said: “we discovered five constructed gas cylinders with explosive improvised devices(EIDs), 20 liters of AGO(diseal), 10 liters of PMS(petrol), one fire extinguisher, 5 9.5 battery chargers and a wall clock in the car”.

    He said the Police Bomb Squad condoned off the place and effectively diffused all the bombs.

    The army also confirmed the failed attack.

    Director of Defence Information Major General Chris Olukolade in a statement explained that an attempt was made to bomb the police station but was foiled by the police.

    “An attack by suicide bombers operating in a pick up vehicle laden with IEDs was this morning foiled in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. The target of the attack was the A Divison Police Station situated by the main round about in the heart of the town. The attempt was however foiled as culprit was arrested by the police personale on duty…

    “A total of 6 already constructed turbines containers loaded with explosives as well as 20 liters of petrol and 11 bags of bean chaff have been recovered from the scene. The police anti bomb squad has safely detonated the explosives”, the statement said.
    The Police in Yobe state has foiled what could have been a deadly attack on A Division Police Station at the central roundabout in Damaturu, the State capital.

    According to the State Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufai, one 19 years old Abubakar Umar drove a Blue Chevrolet pick-up van into the sandbags in front of the station with the intention of blowing up the station and killing many police men.

    “In the early hours of today (Sunday), one Abubakar Umar 19 years, a suicide bomber attempted to bomb the A Division Police Station Damaturu. He was driving in a blue rickety Chevrolet pick-up van in a suspicious manner.

    “The vigilant policemen on duty immediately noticed his suspicious movement and fired some warning shots when the suicide bomber ran on the sandbags in front of the police station and he was arrested.

    “After serious interrogation by the police, Abubakar Umar confessed that he is a Boko Haram and his mission to Damaturu was to come and bomb the police station and kill as many policemen as he can,” Rufai stated.

    CP Rufai also informed that “the vehicle was carrying animal dung apparently as a decoy of concealing the explosives from prowling eyes of security agents”.

    Speaking on the items recovered in the botched attack, CP Sanusi said: “we discovered five constructed gas cylinders with explosive improvised devices(EIDs), 20 liters of AGO(diseal), 10 liters of PMS(petrol), one fire extinguisher, 5 9.5 battery chargers and a wall clock in the car”.

    He said the Police Bomb Squad condoned off the place and effectively diffused all the bombs.

    The army also confirmed the failed attack.

    Director of Defence Information Major General Chris Olukolade in a statement explained that an attempt was made to bomb the police station but was foiled by the police.

    “An attack by suicide bombers operating in a pick up vehicle laden with IEDs was this morning foiled in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. The target of the attack was the A Divison Police Station situated by the main round about in the heart of the town. The attempt was however foiled as culprit was arrested by the police personale on duty…

    “A total of 6 already constructed turbines containers loaded with explosives as well as 20 liters of petrol and 11 bags of bean chaff have been recovered from the scene. The police anti bomb squad has safely detonated the explosives”, the statement said.

     

     

  • 55 die in Yobe auto crash

    Fifty five People have died in two separate road crashes in Yobe state in the early hours of Monday, the Federal Road Safety Yobe Command has said.

    The Public Relation Officer of the Corp in Yobe State Yusuf Sani told newsmen in Damaturu that one of the accidents occurred along Gashua-Garin Alkali road and killed 20 people out of whom 16 were women and 4 men while the other one involving three cars occurred on Damaturu-Potiskum causing the death of 35 people.

    An eyewitness in Gashua who spoke with our correspondent on phone informed that the accident happened while some villagers were returning from the Sunday Market in the area.

    On the cause of the accident, Yusuf said it was as a result of “over-speeding and dangerous overtaking.”

    “The accident at Gashua killed 20 people. Out of that number, 16 are women and 4 are men. They were returning from a local Sunday market from Garin Alkali. On the accident along Damaturu/Potiskum Road, 35 people died, only 7 survived,” Sani disclosed.

    The spokesman informed that those who sustained injuries were taken to Damagum General Hospital, adding that the corpses have equally been evacuated to the same hospital.

  • Gaidam gives deadline to contractor

    Gaidam gives deadline to contractor

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam yesterday directed the contractor handling the Damaturu Regional Water project to deliver it by December.

    Gaidam, who inspected the project on Gujba Road, said he had seen no progress in three weeks.

    His words: “This is the third time I am visiting this project but you have always complained.

    “The other time it was insecurity; the last time it was the crane. Now that the crane is here and the insecurity has gone, I am sure you have no excuse again.

    “By the time I visit in June, I want to see an appreciable degree of work so that before end of this year you will complete and handover the project to us,” the governor said.

    The Damaturu regional water project was awarded in 2009 by the Federal Government at an initial cost of N1.9 billion.

    The project was stagnant and the state decided to take it over, reawarding it at N1.145 billion to UNIPUMP Nigeria in 2012.