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Some assailants, suspected to be members
of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko
Haram yesterday set ablaze residences of the Speaker of the Yobe State
House of Assembly, Adamu Dala Dogo, and two others.
Others
affected are the residences of the House of Representatives, Goni Bukar
(Bogon) and that of Alhaji Sheriff, the younger brother of Governor
Ibrahim Gaidam.
The residences of the speaker and the two others
were located at Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate in Damaturu and sources
said the attackers have also allegedly beheaded two men in the area.
Witnesses said the attacks were launched between 2am and 4am yesterday
when the few people in the town were fast asleep and shortly after the
24 hour curfew imposed on Damaturu entered its second day.
“The
fact is nobody was killed in the houses of the three personalities
because both the speaker, the member of the parliament and the
governor’s brother evacuated their immediate families soon after peace
eluded Damaturu. The local guards attached to all the houses have also
flee,” Kabiru Musa, a resident of the area said.
“However, when I
peeped through the window this morning, I saw a military pick up van
zooming up with two beheaded bodies…it was a gory sight. I also saw
smoke billowing in the direction of the house of the speaker,” Musa
said.
A source at the Yobe State police command confirmed the burning of the three houses and the killing of the two civilians.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State said about 60 suspected
members of the Boko Haram have been arrested between Saturday and Sunday
and confirmed that confrontation between security forces and insurgents
was still ongoing.
Lieutenant Lazarus Eni, the spokesman of the
JTF told our correspondent by phone that security forces have recorded
“unprecedented success” in the clamp down on “suspected terrorists.”
“Over 60 suspects have been arrested and are being interrogated. As I
am talking to you now (6.10pm) our men are exchanging fire with the
terrorists in a location in Damaturu,” he said.
Daily Trust
gathered that seven married women and 12 children were among the
suspects arrested by the JTF operatives during a raid at Nasarawa,
Pawari, Babbar Tsangaya and Nayinawa settlements, all in Damaturu.
Residents said water and electricity have been cut off completely in
Damaturu. “We are passing through trying moments but we pray for light
at the end of the tunnel. We hope the cordon and search will yield
results and rid the town of trouble makers,” Hajiya Falmata, a food
vendor said. |
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