Boko Haram claims killing of soldiers in Damaturu, Maiduguri, Gombe

ABUJA—The Islamist sect, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, popularly called Boko Haram, yesterday, claimed responsibility for the weekend killing of soldiers in Borno, Gombe and Yobe states.

It was a fatal weekend for the military Joint Task Force in the three states as the sect killed a number of them with the JTF losing six soldiers in a single attack in Shagari low cost housing estate, Damaturu last Sunday.

Spokesman of the sect, Abu Qaqa in a statement to newsmen, yesterday, said: “On Saturday at about 6 o’clock in the evening, our warriors and Allah’s followers on a mission were attacked by security operatives of the JTF at Kaleri in Maiduguri. As Allah’s grace is on us we succeeded in killing and sending many of them to their graves.

“However, we triumphed in killing six soldiers in an encounter in Gombe town. We also, got victory in Damaturu at 12 noon when the JTF attempted to capture one of our faithful in a car loaded with bombs at their check point. He killed them on alert of their evil intention.”

According to Yobe State Police Commissioner, a suicide bomber in an explosive-laden vehicle slammed into a military patrol team, killing six soldiers and injuring nine others.

Yobe State has been under increased attack by suspected members of the Islamic sect Boko Haram in recent times.

On Friday, a suicide bomber failed in his attempt to blow up the Mosque where the Emir of Potiskum, Alhaji Mohammadu Ibn Abbali, worshipped, but the bomber died while seven others, including policemen, were injured.