A military source has confirmed that the Boko Haram Islamist sect in
Yobe State killed over 10 soldiers, including several civilians, on
Monday. Yobe State is believed to be the ‘second hub’ of Boko Haram
where they are noted for being seen and moving about openly, even in
broad daylight. It is considered a ‘safe area’ for the group coming
after neighboring Borno State, their home base.
The insurgents, according to the military source, attacked a military
facility at Buni Yadi on Monday evening, and without provocation, had
opened fire on them. The military returned the gunfire, and
SaharaReporters was told, had successfully repelled them. Eyewitnesses
say it was a heavy exchange of gunfire that continued well into the
night, and had lasted at least three hours.
Buni Yadi is located in the Gujba local government area of Yobe state.
The military facility, sources told SaharaReporters, is also located
close to a police facility.
The Boko Haram sect went into the town under the cover of darkness,
wearing green colored military uniforms without insignia, with heavily
armed vans, and also had the use of a tank, which was used to force
their way into the military base.
Sources said the sect militants burnt down the palace of the
district head, court and Divisional Police headquarters.Among the
victims are the Divisional Police Officer, Divisional Crime Officer and
at least 12 other policemen that were killed in the attack.
Military officials, and spokesmen who brief the news media on direct
engagement with the Boko Haram, are strangely silent on this Monday
evening attack. A SaharaReporters source said that they are not passing
along any information to the press regarding the Monday fire fight with
the Boko Haram, at this time.
Aside from the SaharaReporters source that confirmed ten dead
military personnel, no other information following the attack, including
the scores of suspected wounded military personnel among their ranks,
has been issued.
At press time residents in the Gujba local government area are stunned,
and tensions remain high in the town of Buni Yadi, with the fear of yet
another impending attack by the Islamist group arriving at any time. Not
helping frayed nerves says a SaharaReporters source, is the behavior of
local police, and especially, the military. Sources say confidence
among local residents is at a low, with the local military remaining
tight-lipped over additional security measures that may be taken in the
aftermath of a dramatic late night attack that has left at least ten
dead.
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