A crossfire between security forces and suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect early on Thursday in Babbangida, Yobe State, some 50 kilometres north of state capital Damaturu has resulted in the death of nine people, Huhuonline.com can confirm.
According to eyewitnesses, gun-wielding men arrived at the Divisional Police Station in the locality in the wee hours of Thursday and launched an hourlong gun assault on the policemen on duty.
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Rufai confirmed the incident, saying the Police lost four men in its attempt to repel the attack while another two sustained injuries. He said the injured officers had been rushed to the hospital and they were responding well to treatment.
Also, he disclosed that the Police killed five of the insurgents and injured many others before they retreated and escaped.
“The gunmen came around midnight trying to enter the police station with intent to burn it down, but were resisted by the Police,” Rufai said. “We lost four policemen and their rifles were carted away but the station was protected.”
He described the week as a challenging one for security men in the state, considering earlier attacks but promised that they will remain unrelenting in their pursuit of peace in the state.
“We will continue to discharge our responsibility as security men by ensuring that law-abiding citizen have a conducive atmosphere to go on with their legitimate business,” he added, urging the general public to support efforts to return peace to the state.
