The fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, seem to be growing in confidence and sheer bravado. Every day the group ups the ante over what we consider “daring” and it feels like the entire area of Northern Nigeria is at their mercy.
Even in a catalog of daring attacks, yesterday’s attack on the Yobe Government House in Damaturu, the state capital, takes the cake for the most daring.
Reports say that they arrived Damaturu in a large convoy of Toyota Hilux trucks laden with weapons and explosives and they immediately proceeded to torching buildings, as well as the state owned radio station.
In nearby Borno state, explosions by two female bombers at the chicken market as well as a bank shattered the fragile peace, killing seven traders.
This latest Boko Haram attacks comes when the Federal Government is under intense scrutiny for being complicit in the Boko Haram attacks. However, the Vice President refutes these claims and says that the Federal government is not to blame for the insurgency attacks.
On the bright side, the occupation of the government house was short lived as security officers quickly responded and took charge of the situation.
The Chief press secretary to the Yobe state government, Abdullahi Bego, took to Facebook shortly after and posted “Glory be to Almighty God, Nigerian security forces have successfully repelled Boko Haram attacks on Damaturu. The criminals are largely on the run right now. But the security efforts are on-going. Some of the criminals still hiding in the town are being trailed and hunted down.”
The attack on Damaturu and Borno comes barely four days after the Kano central Mosque was attacked, killing no fewer than an estimated 150 people.
