Suspected Boko Haram militants have struck in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, in north-east Nigeria.
According to security operatives and locals, Boko Haram militants had engaged security forces in a lengthy gun battle. People scared by multiple explosions and heavy gunfire are hiding in their homes.
Umar Haruna, a civil servant said the assault on the city, began at about 8p.m am local time, “We are under attack. Gun shooting everywhere in Damaturu…we dont know what to do now.”
An anonymous top security officer of the State Security Service, SSS, who talked to Premium Times correspondent confirmed the information about the attack, “Yes, there is an attack going on here and I believe the soldiers and the police are containing the attacks”.
It would be recalled that on 1 December 2014, Boko Haram fighters carried out attacks on Damataru, targeting the government house. The Nigerian security forces successfully supressed the attack.