Boko Haram Gunmen Set Yobe Town On Fire

BEVERLY HILLS, June 14 (THEWILL) – Following a failed attempt Saturday by Boko Haram gunmen to attack the Yobe town of Babbangida, in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of the state,the insurgents returned Sunday morning, setting many houses in the town on fire in an apparent reprisal for a defeat in the hands of the military..

Babbangida is the headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Area and shares border with Damaturu, the state capital.

A resident of the town, Sule Ibrahim, who disclosed that he escaped the attack, said the earlier attempt by the gunmen to attack the town was frustrated by vigilant military men on guard.

His words; Yesterday (Saturday) being the market day, there were apprehensions of possible attack on the town but security forces were fully aware and such purported attack was thwarted.”

He disclosed that residents of the town were left with no choice than to flee into the forest out of fear, saying the gunmen later returned early Sunday morning to attack the town.

According to him,“As we were hiding in bushes like many other residents in the early hours of today (Sunday) , we then heard several gunshots and chanting of war songs around the troubled Babbangida town confirming the earlier apprehensions and not quite long we saw thick smoke around the town which gave a strong signal that houses and other structures were being burnt.”

Confirming the attack, a senior military officer, craving anonymity, said the attack on Babbangida was reprisal attack by the gunmen who suffered a devastating blow from the combined security forces who raided their hideouts in Sasawa on Saturday.

According to the military officer, “We carried out an offensive attack on the militants as a result of a tip off.

“We gathered that they were preparing to attack Damaturu the state capital and the attack on Tarmuwa may have being carried out as a reprisal to our earlier assaults.”

He disclosed that the attack on Babbangida was huge as GSM services were completely affected as a thick smoke covered the entire town.