B’Haram Moves Against 2015 Polls

• Gombe Imposes 24-hour Curfew After Attacks 

• Military Bombards, Pursues Terrorists

A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Gombe, the Gombe State capital, following a heavy attack launched by the Boko Haram fighters on some government and military facilities Saturday morning. Many residents were feared killed in the attacks.

Hundreds of insurgents had, in the early hours of Saturday, invaded Dadin Kowa and Hinna communities of Yamaltu Deba in Gombe State, firing gunshots and throwing leaflets calling on residents to boycott the forthcoming general elections.

      An eyewitness, Danjuma Yusuf Hassan, told The Guardian, on telephone that the incident occurred at 6:30am and that residents had to flee from the area.

He said the Islamists drove into the communities in Hilux vehicles. 

 Another source, who asked not to be named, said that the sect actually suffered defeat in the hands of Nigerian military troops and those of other neighbouring countries. 

He said heavy gunshots were heard in communities that were attacked by the Islamic sect. The sect members were advancing into the metropolis when they were stopped by the military.

 A tweet from the Defence Headquarters handle confirmed the attack and the military overcoming it.

It said, “A combination of air and ground operation repelled and pursued Boko Haram terrorists who invaded Gombe and tried to terrorise citizens.

   “The terrorists attack on Gombe has been repelled. Troops are in pursuit”, the brief tweet stated.

 PRNigeria also reported Security sources as saying that the terrorists are desperately seeking other places to set up camps as they are being pursued from their existing camps in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

   In the last few weeks, Boko Haram camps in the northern parts of the states close to the boarders with neighbouring countries have been under intense pressures from Nigerian troops in cooperation with troops from the Multinational Joint task Force (MNJTF).

   Some of the camps have been destroyed. And as they could no longer enter Cameroon and Niger so easily, they are moving southwards, the sources confirmed.

   Yet another witnesses said the militants attacked soldiers at the security checkpoints at the edge of the town and forced their way into the quarter guard of the 301 Artillery Regiment.

   The quarter guard was burned but they could not proceed into the main barracks, which is a little far off.

   The terrorists were said to have first invaded Dadin Kowa, a town, 40 kilometres away from Gombe but as they approached the state capital, they were engaged from the air and a combination of troops and mobile policemen.

  But a source disclosed that members of the Joint Military Task Force at the checkpoint in the area took to their heels as the sect members stormed the area, explaining that the Boko Haram members were also searching for food items.

 Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.

   Mr. Ayuba Aluke, Senior Special Assistant to the Gombe State Governor on Media, told The Guardian that Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who was out of the state, has directed that, except for essential services, no movement is allowed until further notice.

   He called for calm and assured that government troops are on top of the situation as successes are being achieved over the insurgents.

   It was also gathered that the insurgents were able to penetrate into the 301 artillery regiment army barracks where unconfirmed report has it that several vehicles were destroyed. It was not clear whether there was resistance from the Nigerian Army but sources said the barrack’s armoury must have been attacked including surrounding areas like State Low-cost, Bolari and others.

Another source also said that the Quarter Guard of the 301 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army was completely raised down to ashes.

Several police posts were said to have been attacked with yet to be ascertained number of casualties recorded.  

   As at the time of filing this report, the insurgents were said to have retreated to the eastern part of the state where Gombe shares border with Borno State.

  “The Boko Haram gunmen are now at the Jeka-da-Fari roundabout in the centre of the city, firing indiscriminately and throwing pamphlets calling on people not to participate in the elections,” resident Ali Dahiru said.