Thursday 25 April 2013

UPDATE: Two Soldiers, Five Militants Dead And Full JTF Statement Boko Haram Attacks Army Base, Police Station In Gashua, Yobe

Gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram early Thursday morning attacked security bases in Gashua Town of Yobe State shooting for hours and engaging security forces in a shootout.
Fati Umar, a female school teacher in Gashua, sent a text message at about 1 a.m. saying “please do pray for us! We are in danger.” The spokesman of the peacekeeping Joint Task Force in Yobe, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, confirmed the incident via a text message sent to reporters at about 12:35 a.m. In his text, Mr.
Lazarus said; “fighting is currently ongoing between JTF troops in Yobe State and suspected Boko Haram terrorists who attacked military location and the police station in Gashua town of Bade LGA. Other details would be provided later.
Please acknowledge.” Ms. Umar later confirmed on the telephone to PREMIUM TIMES that dozens of Boko Haram gunmen invaded their Mobile Base area of Gashua at about midnight shooting and chanting Islamic slogan ‘Allahu Akbar’ “From the way they were moving, it was like they were going house to house.
They shot several gunshots around our house but the gate was firmly locked. “It was this morning we heard they attacked police station and the prison,” she said. The mother of three said “we are still locked up inside the house now because the soldiers said no one should come outside till 1p.m.” PREMIUM TIMES will provide more details of the incident later
UPDATE: Two Soldiers, Five Militants Dead And Full JTF Statement
“Some of the suspected terrorists escaped in two vehicles with injuries while others are believed to still be in the town,” he said, disclosing that a cordon-and-search operation is ongoing in Gashua to find them. “The fleeing terrorists took away one police Hilux vehicle fitted with siren at the top, one other vehicle, police uniforms and other items from the Police stations.”
Items recovered from the gunmen, according to Lazarus, include the following: One Toyota Corolla Car, One Peugeot 406 Saloon Car, One Isuzu Pick Up Van, One AK 47 Rifle, One Police Anti-Riot Gun, One Locally Made Pistol, One Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, One Generating Set and Large Quantity of Ammunition.
He urged the public to be mindful of the fact that the terrorists are still in the area and are bent on wreaking havoc and instilling fear in law abiding citizens, but that the JTF will continue to respond appropriately to such attacks. The Task Force urges all law abiding citizens to remain calm as it is currently on top of the situation.

Full text of the statement:
“At about 12 mid night Thursday 25 April 2013, unknown gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram Terrorists attacked JTF location in Gashua town, the Police Area Command and Gashua Divisional Police Station. Men of the JTF were able to repel and contain the attack on its location. Reinforcement was however dispatched swiftly and was able to engage the terrorists.
“Two police officers were killed in the attack while five of the suspected terrorists lost their lives during the encounter. Some of the suspected terrorists escaped in two vehicles with injuries while others are believed to still be in the town. The fleeing terrorists took away one police Hilux vehicle fitted with siren at the top, one other vehicle, police uniforms and other items from the Police stations.
“Items recovered include; One Toyota Corolla Car, One Peugeot 406 Saloon Car, One Isuzu Pick Up Van, One AK 47 Rifle, One Police Anti-Riot Gun, One Locally Made Pistol, One Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bomb, One Generating Set and Large Quantity of Ammunition.
“The public is enjoined to be mindful of the fact that the terrorists are still around and are bent on wrecking havoc and instilling fear in law abiding citizens in other to make life unbearable for them. Let no one be in doubt however, that JTF would continue to respond appropriately to such attacks. The Task Force urges all law abiding citizens to remain calm as it is currently on top of the situation. A cordon and search operation is currently on going in Gashua town.”


Source: Premium Times

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