24 hour curfew imposed on Gombe after Boko Haram invasion

The Gombe state government has imposed a 24 hour curfew in Gombe town, capital of Gombe state after Boko Haram militants attempted to overrun it on Saturday. Eye witnesses said the militants attacked soldiers at the security checkpoints at the edge of the town and forced their way into the quarter guard of the 301 […]

The Gombe state government has imposed a 24 hour curfew in Gombe town, capital of Gombe state after Boko Haram militants attempted to overrun it on Saturday.

Eye witnesses said the militants attacked soldiers at the security checkpoints at the edge of the town and forced their way into the quarter guard of the 301 Artillery Regiment.

The quarter guard was burned but they could not proceed into the main barracks which is a little far off.

‘Explosions and gunfire could be heard after the fighters overwhelmed a checkpoint at the edge of the city, which has been bombed before but has never had the insurgents attempt to take it over,” Reuters reported.

Weekly Trust correspondent said panicked residents have largely remained indoors for fear of being caught in the cross fire between the military and the insurgents.

Military helicopters have been reportedly drafted to the troubled areas to push the militants back.

The federal government last week announced the postponement of the presidential and parliamentary elections which were supposed to hold today due to the spate of violence perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorists.

Earlier on Saturday, the terrorists invaded Dadin Kowa town, 40 kilometers from Gombe.

They were sharing pamphlets warning people to stay away from voting in the coming elections.

The military were not immediately available for comment.