Suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in
four gun trucks; attacked Dapchi town; forcing many residents to flee
for safety into homes and nearby bushes in Yobe.
After fierce battle with troops and security forces, five policemen were killed.
Residents had alerted the military, before the insurgents targeted the
Dapchi military post along Gashua road.
“This morning, we collected the bodies of five policemen killed in
the fight with ISWAP terrorists,” said Dapchi residents.
Hassan Isa, a community leader said Dapchi policemen fought back and
killed two of terrorists; but were over-powered by heavily armed
fighters that bust from Sasawa Forest.
“We are preparing to convey the bodies to Damaturu, the state capital
for their burial,” he said; adding that the insurgents snatched two
patrol vehicles of police and local hunters fighting along with
security forces.
Dapchi was attacked on February 19, 2018 by insurgents with the
abduction 110 school girls at Government Girls Science and Technical
College, before they were released last year with death of five girls.
Leah Sharibu, is however; in the captivity of Boko Haram, as she
refused to convert from Islam to Christianity.
Confirming the attack Thursday in Damaturu, an anonymous soldier
attached to Dapchi military post said that; “The terrorists have
torched many houses here in this town.
“Many people also fled for safety into nearby bushes, shrubs and the
Kumadugu-Yobe River across the road for cover.
He said that some residents also fled to nearby village of Jumbam, 15
kilometres south of Dapchi, and the council headquarters of Bursari
Local Government Area.
The soldier; in a telephone interview also told The Guardian that the
terrorists came in dozens of gun trucks patrolling the town for
several hours.
Audu Musa, a resident also said that mobile telephone lines have been
disrupted, as the telecom masts along Damaturu-Gashua road were also
destroyed by the terrorists.
He said that the communication disruption was to prevent communities
in the Damaturu/Gashua axis from alerting troops and other security
agencies.
According to him, mobile lines to Dapchi have been unreachable since
reports of Boko Haram fighters attacked the town.
On how Dapchi was attacked, the soldier said: “In the last few months
now, adjourning villages of Dapchi had been alerting military and
other security agencies about the movement of Boko Haram fighters.
“They have been complaining about the movement of the terrorists who
they said go about sometimes in the evening or early in the morning.”
Commuters along the road in north part of Yobe state, had to abandon
the 100-kilometre Dapchi/Damaturu road over incessant attacks and
killings.
The commuters; according to him, ply the Gashua/Jakusko/Potiskum road
before crisscrossing six council areas to reach Damaturu, the state
capital.
