Explosions, Gunfire in Damaturu as Military & Boko Haram Face Off

The Yobe state capital, Damaturu is currently under Boko Haram insurgents’ attack. And according to reports, the mobile Police base and other places have been burnt.

The attackers stormed the town around 4:45 am and detonated explosives along the Gujba road before they advanced to the Mobile base where they set it ablaze. The gunmen shot their way indiscriminately into the base but casualty figures could not ascertain at the time of filing this report. A resident told Daily trust:

“I was performing ablution to say my early morning prayers when a loud blast went off
and shooting continued. We all ran into the bush but we can see the mobile base in flames and shootings are still on.”

Resident of a three- bed room estate along Gujba road confirmed that the attackers have raided the area shooting and detonating explosives.

“We can see thick smokes going up and hearing intermittent shootings,” a resident said.

Students of the Yobe state University told DailyTrust that they managed to escape to the bush from their hostels but they could not confirm if the schools was torched. Many residents of the town close to the area of attacks have started fleeing in droves through the Gashua road.

Meanwhile, a fighter jet from the Nigerian Air force is said to have arrived to provide aerial cover for the troops battling the insurgents. Gujba and Gulani Local Government areas have been under Boko haram control since July this year.

At 8:50, reports coming in from Damaturu said the shootings were subsiding after the military plane hovered around for about 45 minutes, dropping bombs.