Yobe: Nine Persons Killed As Boko Haram Gunmen Clash With Police

SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, (THEWILL) - A renewed confrontation between gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram and the police in Babangida town of Yobe State, Thursday, has claimed the lives of nine persons.

Babangida, which is about 50 kilometres north of Damaturu, the state capital, is the secretariat of Tarmuwa Local Government Area .

According to eye witnesses, the gunmen , numbering over 20 had stormed the Divisional Police Station of the area in the early hours of Thursday and opened fire at policemen on duty in an encounter that lasted for about an hour.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, said the gunmen attacked the Divisional Police Station around 1am and engaged the police in a shoot-out that lasted for an hour.

Rufai, who claimed that his men were able to repel the attack, said the four policemen were lost in the encounter while two others who sustained injuries were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

He said the policemen on their part were able to kill five of the gunmen while many of the gunmen sustained injuries. He however said due to their number, they were able to carry away their injured colleagues.

While recalling that the week has been a challenging one for security men in the state with the new rise in attack by the insurgents, he promised that his men will not rest in the search for sustained peace in the state.

"We will continue to discharge our responsibility as security men by ensuring that law abiding citizen have conducive atmosphere to go on with their legitimate business," he assured even as called for support from the public in the bid to ensure lasting peace in the state.