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 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 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.
Sources 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. 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.
culled from Sahara Reporters
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