A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Gombe, the Gombe
State capital following a heavy attack launched by the dreaded Boko Haram
fighters on some government and military facilities yesterday morning, where
many were feared killed.
Senior Special Assistant to the Gombe State Governor
on Media, Mr. Ayuba Aluke, told our correspondent that Governor Ibrahim
Dankwambo who was out of the state had directed that except for essential
services, no movement should be allowed until further notice.
Aluke called for calm and assured that government
troops were on top of the situation as successes were being achieved over the
insurgents.
Residents of the state capital woke up to sounds of
bombs and gunshots. which lasted for over three hours before fighter-jets later
seen straffed and bombed some selected parts of the town.
It was also learnt that the Boko Haram fighters were
seen in the early hours of Saturday coming into the town from the eastern parts
of Gombe in many pick up trucks. It was also gathered that the insurgents were
able to penetrate the 301 Artillery Regiment Army barracks where unconfirmed
reports 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 told our correspondent that the
Quarter Guard of the 301 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army was completely
reduced to ashes.
Several police posts were said to have been attacked
with yet to be ascertained number casualties recorded.
However, the Gombe State Police Command’s spokesman, Fwaje
Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the attack but said they
were still assessing the situation.
As at the time of filing this report, the insurgents
were said to have retreated backwards towards the eastern part of the state
were Gombe shares a border with Borno State.
It was gathered that they were sharing leaflets
warning the people not to vote during elections. A source from Hinna in
Yamaltu- Deba Local Government said the insurgents killed many people and
destroyed many facilities including the ambulance of Hinna Cottage Hospital.
Hinna, Dadin-Kowa, Kwadon, Liji and all adjoining towns on Gombe-Biu axis are
now no more than ghost towns as no one is seen outside.
Meanwhile, the military said yesterday that its troops
successfully repelled the attack on Gombe state capital by insurgents.
This was disclosed by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ,,
in a tweet, stressing that the troops were already going after the fleeing
insurgents. In the tweet, the DHQ said, “Terrorists attack on Gombe has been
repelled. Troops are in pursuit. Details later.”
Reports from Gombe, at press time, however, indicated
that the insurgents have already been chased by soldiers some three kilometres
away from the town.
Saturday’s attack was coming less than two weeks after
a suicide bomber struck at the campaign venue of President Goodluck Jonathan in
the city few minutes after his departure.
The President was in Gombe for a campaign rally on
February 2, when a female suicide bomber struck shortly after the campaign
train departed.
The female suicide bomber and a passerby died in the
attack, while six persons were injured, the police said at the time.
In December, the Nigerian military said it killed 67
of the insurgents, who, in a convoy of over 30 vehicles and motorcycles, were
on a mission to capture Ashaka, another Gombe town, the host community of
Ashaka Cement Plant.
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