Few months after the emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan on some states of the federation as a result of terrorist attacks, the Military has again declared a 24-hour curfew on Yobe State, beginning from Friday.
The decision followed attacks by the Boko Haram sect on Damaturu, the state capital on Thursday night. While information on the impact of the attack remains scanty, the Military said it killed 95 of the sect members in two separate confrontations.
The statement announcing the imposition of curfew, signed by Capt. Eli Lazarus, who is the spokesman of the 3 Division Special Operations Battalion, Damaturu, said: “The 3 Division Special Operation Battalion, Damaturu, hereby imposes a 24-hour curfew across Yobe state, with immediate effect.
“Law-abiding citizens are enjoined to remain calm as the battalion steps up its operation to rid the state of insurgents.”
Announcing the killing of the sect members earlier, spokesman of the Army, Ibrahim Attahiru disclosed in a statement to journalists that in one of the attacks, officials of the 7 Division of the Army encountered insurgents along Beni-Sheikh-Dohoma Lawanti-Galangi Road, where about 70 of the Boko Haram members were killed while others escaped.
The statement added that in its bid to rid the entire North-East of insurgents, the 7 Division has continued to dominate its area of responsibility through aggressive patrols.
“On 24 October, 2013 by 0300hrs troops of 21 Brigade, 7 Division Nigerian Army encountered insurgents along Beni-Sheikh-Dohoma Lawanti-Galangi Road axis, a fire fight ensued and the insurgents were effectively neutralised,” a part of the statement read.
“Fleeing insurgents from the earlier encounter at Beni-Sheikh-Dohoma Lawanti-Galangi regrouped to carry out attacks on Damaturu town. Our Command Post located close to NNPC Mega Station and other locations on the outskirt of Damaturu were attacked which was equally repulsed and about 25 insurgents killed.”
The State, Adamawa and Borno have been under state of emergency with the deployment of military officials to combat the rising excesses of the Boko Haram sect. But even with military presence, members of the sect have continued to launch attacks successfully.