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Tag: Yobe Attack

  • Yobe attack: terrorists killed, weapons recovered, says Army

    Several insurgents were killed and weapons recovered in an attempted attack on Damaturu, Yobe State capital during an encounter between troops and terrorists, Army has said.

    Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Mr. Njoka Irabor, who confirmed the attack in a statement said, several insurgents were killed and many items recovered from them including two gun trucks, rifles, Anti Aircraft guns among others.

    Lt. Irabor who described the operation as successful noted that the superior firepower of the land troops, with support of the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole overpowered the terrorists who suffered heavy casualty.

    His statement reads;
    “Following credible information of planned efforts by Boko Haram terrorists to attack Damaturu, troops of Sector 2, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, successfully laid an ambush which led to the extermination of many Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), that attempted to attack Damaturu, Yobe State at about 5:15 pm, today Tuesday the 9th of April 2019.

    “The vigilant troops effectively ambushed the criminals few metres ahead of Maisandari community at the outskirts of the city of Damaturu.

    Read Also: Boko Haram insurgents attack Damaturu

    “The terrorists were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the gallant troops and the well-coordinated air support, from the Air Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

    “Consequently, many terrorists met their Waterloo, some were also wounded and the following items/equipment were recovered;
    a. 2 x Gun Trucks
    b. 2x Anti Aircraft Guns
    c. 1 x 60 Millimetre Mortar
    d. 4 x AK 47 Rifles
    e. 1x General Purpose Machine Gun
    f. 1,245 Rounds of 7.62 mm (NATO)

    “Troops have embarked on hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists, mop up/combing of the general area is ongoing.

    “Further details and possible recoveries would be provided on completion of the mop up operations”.

  • Boko Haram tried to capture Yobe Government House – Senate

    Boko Haram tried to capture Yobe Government House – Senate

    Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday raised the alarm over Monday’s failed attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to take over the Yobe State Government House in Damaturu.

    Mark spoke when Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), raised the issue of the daring attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to overrun the Yobe State capital on Monday.

    He described as “a new dimension” the attempt by the insurgents to capture Yobe State Government House.

    He said, “Ahmed, please you know I agreed with you that you will not raise the matter to a level where it will become controversial.

    “Let me just tell you why I allowed you, it is because of the fact that insurgents are attacking left, right, front and back in North East but that of yesterday (Monday) was because they were able to get to the Government House which gave it a new dimension.

    “It has nothing to do with state of emergency, please do not make any statement that is controversial.”

    Lawan, who came under Order 43 asked for the indulgence of the Senate and the leave of the President of the Senate, to give a detailed account of what happened in Yobe State on Monday.

    He said, “I spoke with you (Mark) this morning on the need for me on behalf of my colleagues from Yobe State to make a personal explanation on what happened in Damaturu, Yobe State capital yesterday (Monday).

    “Mr. President, I will like to formally inform this Senate that Damaturu was attacked by insurgents from about 5am on Monday and the military or the armed forces, battled the insurgents and controlled the situation.

    “So many lives were lost but at this moment, we cannot determine the exact number of the dead people. Several people were also wounded and of course, psychologically, hundreds of thousands of Yobe people and even other Nigerians are traumatized about that incident.

    “Mr. President, I want to say this, a war is not won by the name of the operation, a war is won by the operators of the operation that operate in the theatre of war.

    “Our soldiers were determined to fight the insurgents. They fought very gallantly and exhibited valour and they did that because they have motivation not because there was any state of emergency existing.

    “Mr. President, the significance of what happened in Damaturu yesterday (Monday) should not be lost on us.”

     

  • Saraki condemns Yobe attack

    …Seeks necessary action against Boko Haram

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Monday decried an early morning attack on a school in Yobe State that killed 47 students.

    Saraki, who is representing Kwara Central in the upper chamber, said by attacking the innocent pupils, Boko Haram is seeking to break the cords that bind the nation together.

    The former governor in a statement in Abuja, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of focusing his energy on how to remain in power beyond 2015 rather than fixing the country.

    He called on the President to take all necessary action to end the insurgency, saying the Presidency has been too silent on the Boko Haram insurgency.

    He said, “My heart goes out to the families of the students affected by the bomb blast on an assembly ground in Yobe State this morning.

    “These children are the future of Nigeria, and again we have witnessed the fact that by attacking the young and innocent in our society, Boko Haram is seeking to break our united Nigerian spirit through their evil and cowardly acts. This shall not stand.

    “In the past few weeks, we have seen for ourselves how Boko Haram has rampaged through the North East of Nigeria – going as far as being audacious enough to tempt our sovereignty by hoisting up a dark flag to signify conquest.

    “Our men and women on the frontlines have performed valianty, with many of them giving their lives in the struggle to ensure that the evil of Boko Haram does not spread across the country.

    “Amid this rampage, Nigerians have stood together to support those that fight on our behalf, but we are at a loss when it comes to what united direction we must take as a nation to combat these recent developments because the Presidency has been silent on this insecurity for far too long. We deserve better.

    “We deserve better because against the backdrop of the insurgency, amid the abductions of the Chibok girls, President Jonathan has been focusing more energy on trying to keep himself in power beyond 2015, than in trying to fix Nigeria for Nigerians.”

  • Yobe attack: One more victim dies

    One out of the five students that survived the attack on college of Agriculture, Gujba, died on Monday morning at the General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital.
    The death of the student has now put the death toll to 41 after 40 dead bodies were brought to the mortuary on Sunday.
    The college Provost, Molima Mato, who confirmed this to our correspondent, also said 38 bodies have been evacuated from the mortuary for burial, leaving only three.