Update: Two policemen, five Boko Haram killed in Gashua, Yobe, gunfight, JTF says

Many of the insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds.

Ola’ Audu

Two police officers and five gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram were killed during a midnight shootout between the insurgents and security officials in Gashua Town of Yobe State, residents and security agency said.

The spokesman of the peacekeeping Joint Task Force (JTF), Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, said in a press statement that most of the Boko Haram gunmen fled in the heat of the shooting abandoning their vehicles and cache of arms.

Fati Umar, a female school teacher and resident of Gashua, sent a text message out at about 1 a.m. saying “please do pray for us! We are in danger.”

Ms. Umar later confirmed on the telephone to journalists 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.

Mr. Lazarus said in his statement that the attack started at midnight.

“At about 12 midnight 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,” Mr. Lazarus said