GORE gory details of last
week’s Boko Haram
attacks on Damaturu,
the Yobe State capital,
emerged yesterday. No
fewer than 128 people
were killed, it was learnt.
Military and hospital
reports indicated to
Associated Press (AP)
that 23 soldiers, eight
policemen and 95
insurgents were killed in
the five-hour long battle
between the Islamic
extremists and troops.
There has been no
specific figure given by
the military on the
casualty , but the latest
findings showed that the
militants had a strong
hand and caught troops
by surprise.
The attack came after a
lull and almost six
months after the federal
government imposed a
state of emergency in
Yobe along with Borno
and Adamawa states.
Reporters saw that the
extremists set ablaze
four police command
posts and an army
barracks where they
looted vehicles and
weapons.
Police and witnesses
said at least two
civilians died — a man
believed killed by the
insurgents and a civil
servant shot by soldiers
for breaking the curfew.
Also yesterday, the
United Nations High
Commissioner for
Refugees UNHCR) urged
neigbouring countries to
keep their borders open
for Nigerians fleeing the
escalating violence and
who may be in need of
international protection.
The Geneva-based
agency also advised
states against forced
return of people to the
region.
Spokesperson Dan
McNorton told reporters:
“Our recommendations
are contained in a newly
issued Return Advisory,
which seeks to ensure
that humanitarian and
asylum principles are
upheld in light of the
worsening security
situation in northeastern
Nigeria.”
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