Five explosives on
Wednesday detonated in a house belonging to suspected members of the
Boko Haram sect in Damaturu, Yobe State capital.
The Deputy
Commissioner of Police in the state, Hyacinth Medugu, confirmed to
reporters that the devices exploded when a team of policemen from Yobe
and Borno commands stormed the suspected house at Sani Daura Ahmed
Housing Estate in Damaturu.
“We received
information from Borno command that a house in Damaturu was harbouring
Boko Haram members and requested enforcement to search the premises of
the suspected house.
“We mounted
surveillance on the house and noticed suspected movements in and out of
the house. Then we moved into action around 5am today (Wednesday)
exchanging fire with the suspects and, one of our men was shot but is
responding to treatment.
“The unfortunate
thing is that, three of the suspects detonated the explosives and
escaped leaving behind two wives and three children who have been
evacuated and were all safe,” said Mr Medugu.
The DCP explained
that fire fighters were invited to quench the fire from the explosives
which razed down the house “but we recovered five cylinders suspected
to have been used for the explosives”.
Mr. Medugu noted that members of the dreaded sect are turning Damaturu into a safe haven for their operations in Maiduguri.
“As a measure to
check the infiltration, the command met with estate agents and vendors
and, directed that the profile of tenants seeking for houses should be
submitted to the police,” said the police commissioner.
In another
development, a detachment of mobile police officers in Damaturu has
arrested six men of the Civil Defence Corps, following the arrest of a
mobile policeman by the civil defence that was allegedly drunk and
misbehaving.
Mr. Medugu
confirmed the incident saying the matter was under investigation and
“appropriate disciplinary measures would be meted on those found
wanting.”
The police commissioner also said 4,326 policemen will be deployed to cover elections across the state.
“We are fully
prepared for the election and solicit for cooperation from politicians,
stakeholders and the general public for a violence free election in the
state”.
