Boko Haram guns down top police officers in Damaturu

The Boko Haram uprising has worsened in Damaturu, Yobe State, with the extremist Islamic sect killing two top police officers today.

Three days of bombing and exchange of gunfire has led to the killing of the Assistant Commissioner in charge of operations at the Yobe State Police Command, I. Abubakar.

Also felled in the prolonged attack is the Squadron Commander of 41 Mobile Force, whose name was given as Kabiru. The deceased officer was a superintendent of police.

Details of how the officers were killed are still sketchy. Spokesperson of the Yobe Police, Abdulkadir Song, said the operation to curtail the insurgents was still ongoing and that the police was not ready yet to confirm casualties.

“When we are ready, we will call a press conference and tell you what you need to know,” Mr. Song said. He however confirmed that as at the time he spoke, gunshots were still booming around the capital.

Premium Times learnt that members of the Boko Haram sect had continued to detonate explosives in the Yobe State capital in the last three days.

Yesterday, there were reports that four people were killed in the explosions while thousands of travellers in and around  Damaturu were trapped.

Nigerian security agencies have blamed the Boko Haram sect for scores of violent attacks around the country, including the August suicide bombing of UN headquarters here.