Policeman, Lecturer, 18 Traders Killed In Fresh Yobe Attack

BEVERLY HILLS, February 04, (THEWILL) - A fresh attack on a local market in Yobe State has claimed the lives of a policeman and 18 traders with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.

A lecturer with the state College of Agriculture, Gujba, was also killed by the fleeing gunmen at Buni Gari as he was returning from Asaka, Gombe State.

Confirming the incident which happened on Monday, the Yobe State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, explained that the traders were killed by the gunmen in two villages in Gulani Local Government Area.

According to Rufai, "the traders were ambushed by the bandits while travelling back from Ngalda local market.

"The bandits attacked and killed 18 traders, 10 from Kukawa and eight from Dokshi vilages and took away their money estimated at millions of naira.

"The bandits were masked and wearing army uniform as they took their victims by surprise, " he said.

The Police Commissioner said the bandits also attacked some policemen attached to a quarry plant in the area, killing one policeman.

Though he said no arrest has been made, he maintained that the "Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police are now combing the bush while the security agents across the state are on red alert.

" He lamented that "bandits are now parading themselves as Boko Haram to wreak havoc on innocent people and making them to be afraid.

" The state Council of Chiefs as however condemned the attack .

In a communique issued at the end of their seventh Council meeting in Damaturu, the monarchs commended the security agents for restoring peace in the state.

They however regretted the Monday night attack.
The Emir of Fika, Mohammad Abali Ibn Idrissa Muhammadu, who spoke on behalf of the monarchs, called on the people to cooperate with security agencies in the fight against terror.