Nigeria - Boko Haram Attacks Police Station, Military Base

Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect Wednesday night attacked a police station and a makeshift military base in Damagum community in Yobe State.

Also, Borno State Police Command announced a N1 million reward for anyone with useful information which could lead to the arrest of the kingpins of the sect and seizure of arms and ammunition. 

However, it was gathered that the scores of the sect members in a coordinated attack first launch threw explosives at the police station dislodging the policemen on duty after sporadic exchange of gun shots.

As the attack on the police station which was between 7:30pm and 8pm was on, another detachment of the sect engaged the military in a gun battle at a makeshift base somewhere in the town.

The numbers of casualties could not be ascertained last night, as it was dark and everyone was shell-shock to come at even long after ceasefire.

When contacted, Yobe State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Toyin Gbadegesin, confirmed the attack, but however said it will be in the morning (today) before the number of casualties could be given and other lost ascertained as the dark made it impossible to have good assessment of the situation.

On the N1 million bounty, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Samuel Tizhe, an assistant superintendent of police, said: “The Borno State Police Command wishes to call on all well-spirited members of the public that a handsome reward awaits anybody who has useful information which would lead to the arrest of hoodlums and other criminal elements terrorising Borno State or recovery of arms and ammunition from such persons.”

The statement highlighted the categories of the reward which include N500,000 for useful information that will lead to the arrest of the hoodlums, another N500,000 for information on where arms and ammunition could be recovered while N1 million was announced as reward for information that will lead to the arrest of hoodlums and recovery of arms and ammunition.

The police promised to treat information given to them with utmost confidentiality and added that ensuring peace and tranquility in Borno State was the responsibility of all indigenes and residents alike.

The release appealed to the public to report directly to the commissioner of police or call the mobile phone numbers: 07033101616.

Commenting on the reward during an interactive session with journalists, the newly posted Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Bala Hassan, said the police consider anybody that uses arms and ammunition to breach the peace and tranquility of the state as hoodlum and criminal, adding that they were not particularly considering the sect alone.  
Meanwhile, an Inspector of Police was allegedly shot dead at one of the popular markets in Maiduguri, while shopping.

The police inspector, whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of filling this report, had gone to Gamboru market at about 4pm to buy some foodstuffs. Unknown to him, he was followed from behind by a man believed to be member of the Boko Haram sect.

As he was still engrossed in price hackling, the sect member drew his gun from his flowing gown and ran bullets several on him. He was reported to have died immediately. It could not however be gathered whether he was in uniform when was he was killed as details were sketchy last night.

It was also gathered from police sources that the killed inspector was attached to the “C” OPS department of the state Police Command. When contacted by journalists on phone, Tizhe confirmed the killing.

THISDAY