Gunmen bomb more telecom masts, kill 16 in Yobe

DAMATURU- Barely 24 hours after torching 15 masts of four Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) firms in Borno state violence however, spread to neighbouring Yobe state, setting ablaze the service-base masts of Airtel, Glo and Etisalat in Potiskum and Damaturu, with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs in the early hours of Thursday.

Besides the torching of GSM masts, the gunmen, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, killed 16 people, including the Yobe state government protocol officer, Mallam Adamu, while returning from his duty post at the Government House, Damaturu.

Fresh explosions rock Kano, Damaturu

KANO— A Series of explosions were reported in Goron Dutse, Dala Local Government Area of Kano State and Sabon Fegi area of Damaturu, capital of Yobe State last night .

The blasts were followed by sporadic gunshots, witnesses said.

Sources said unknown gunmen attacked Dala Police Station close to Sheik Isyaku Rabiu’s residence in Kano.

Some reports indicated that the gunfight spread to Sharada quarters in Kano. Police sources stated that militants were being chased on a highway linking Dala and Sharada area.

Gunmen attacked the station during the evening rush hour as witnesses confirmed explosion amid sporadic shooting forcing residents passers-by to scamper for safety

Boko Haram frees 40 from Yobe Prison

Forty inmates of Yobe Prison were freed in an attack believed to have been carried out by the dreaded Boko Haram Sect, Patrick Egbuniwe, Yobe State police commissioner, said on Sunday.

"There was an attack on the Yobe prison this morning. The Boko Haram sect attacked the prison through the Emir's palace and 40 inmates escaped," he said.

"They attacked with rifles; the police and the joint task force confronted them. The Boko Haram members that were shot were carried away by the sect."

He said two of the attackers were shot dead and some policemen were injured.

Gun battles between sect members and security forces in Yobe's capital Damaturu killed 40 people on Tuesday last week.

Boko Haram has been blamed for several prison breaks in the past and one of the group's few demands has been that its imprisoned members should be freed.

Attacks on churches have intensified this month, sparking deadly religious violence in the northern state of Kaduna.

News credit: Daily Times

Boko Haram Cell Leader, Habib Bama, Dies From Gunshot Wounds

Habibu Bama, a cell leader for Boko Haram and the suspected mastermind of the Christmas Day bloody attack on Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State is dead.

Mr. Bama, who was arrested Thursday in Damaturu, Yobe State as he attempted to grab a gun from a soldier, died early this morning from gunshot wounds he received from agents of the Joint Task Force battling the extremist Islamist sect.

More than 42 worshipers and bystanders died in the Christmas Day attack, one of the most

Massive Bombings in Damaturu, Yobe State

SaharaReporters has just been alerted that a series of massive bombings and gunshots are currently underway in the New Jerusalem area of Damaturu, Yobe State. The attacks began around 5:00pm, according to witnesses who say that no less the 25 gunshots have been heard.The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) and Boko Haram militants are engaged in gun fighting near the residence of the state governor.

A local pastor has just informed SaharaReporters that the sporadic shootings are still taking place. He, along with church members, are in hiding as the fighting between JTF forces and Boko Haram members is increasing in intensity.

News credit: Sahara Reporters