Suspected bombers kill three policemen in Yobe

SIX suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers yesterday attacked a police checkpoint detonating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in two vehicles. Three policemen died in the incident with two others injured.

The explosion occurred along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road around 11.am.

Five of the suspected attackers also died in the multiple blasts that targeted policemen at the security checkpoint near the Damaturu road gateway into the state capital.

The Yobe State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Toyin Gbadegesin, in a telephone interview yesterday confirmed the incident, stating that the suspects targeted the policemen at Damaturu gate checkpoint near the NNPC mega station.

“Our officers and men at that checkpoint were caught unawares when six bombers strapped with explosives detonated the devices and killed three policemen at the scene along with five suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers that attempted to beat police stop and search on the highway, before they could launch more deadly attacks in the state capital, Damaturu at about 11.am this morning,” Gbadegesin said.

He said two other security personnel were also injured and are receiving treatment at the Damaturu Specialist Hospital.

Narrating how the police checkpoint was attacked, he said: “Two cars suspected to be carrying explosive devices were apprehended and in the process of looking for reinforcement to convey the suspects to the Yobe State Police Command, they detonated the IEDs which killed five people at the spot, while three others died later in the hospital.”

He said officers from the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) of the state police command were deployed to the scene to diffuse other devices recovered from the two vehicles.

He also called on people of the state to be vigilant.

“The bombings during Sallah in Damaturu three days ago could have been averted if citizens of the state had observed the restriction of vehicular movement in the state, as was in neighbouring state of Borno,” said the police spokesman.