According to various sources from 100 to 300 Boko Haram insurgents were killed in the recent attack on Damaturu, Yobe State.
It would be recalled that the state capital was hit by a ghastly attack on Monday, December 1. As a result, scores of civilians were murdered and a 2-hour curfew was imposed on the town.
However the insurgents suffered great casualties as they might have lost more than 300 of their members, Sahara Reporters provides with reference to the BBC Hausa.
The gunmen stormed Damaturu early morning waking up the residents with gunshots. They reportedly set ablaze schools and a police station and then headed for the government house to seize the capital.
According to a hospital source, as the offensive was repelled, more than 100 corpses killed by the military were brought to the Specialist Hospital in Damaturu.
One of the locals, Bukar Yakubu, commended the performance of the army:
“They really tried even though it was not easy but they killed more than 100 and some of them were captured today.”
Daily Trust says however that 150 insurgents were killed adding that
the surviving militants loaded bodies of their dead colleagues into cars
and drove away with them.
Another resident, Mohammed Ali, also praised the military lamenting however over the army’s defensive tactics.
“Why must they always wait for them to attack instead of taking the war to them? The Boko Haram insurgents have been having a field day for over two months in Buni Yadi which is less than 50 kilometers from Damaturu. I think it would be better to go and confront them there.”
It would be noted that the state of emergency has recently expired in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states.
President Goodluck Jonathan requested for the emergency rule extension, which move was not warmly met by some senators of the National Assembly. The decision on the issue is yet to be made.
It would be recalled that the state capital was hit by a ghastly attack on Monday, December 1. As a result, scores of civilians were murdered and a 2-hour curfew was imposed on the town.
However the insurgents suffered great casualties as they might have lost more than 300 of their members, Sahara Reporters provides with reference to the BBC Hausa.
The gunmen stormed Damaturu early morning waking up the residents with gunshots. They reportedly set ablaze schools and a police station and then headed for the government house to seize the capital.
According to a hospital source, as the offensive was repelled, more than 100 corpses killed by the military were brought to the Specialist Hospital in Damaturu.
One of the locals, Bukar Yakubu, commended the performance of the army:
Another resident, Mohammed Ali, also praised the military lamenting however over the army’s defensive tactics.
“Why must they always wait for them to attack instead of taking the war to them? The Boko Haram insurgents have been having a field day for over two months in Buni Yadi which is less than 50 kilometers from Damaturu. I think it would be better to go and confront them there.”
It would be noted that the state of emergency has recently expired in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states.
President Goodluck Jonathan requested for the emergency rule extension, which move was not warmly met by some senators of the National Assembly. The decision on the issue is yet to be made.