Nigeria army confirms 'engaging terrorists' in Damaturu

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS 

The Nigerian army confirmed on Monday that its troops have engaged "terrorists" who attacked Damaturu, the capital city of troubled Yobe state in the country's northeast, earlier in the day.

"Troops backed by the Air Force are carefully engaging terrorists who attacked the town in the early hours of today," the army said on Twitter.

"The approach is to secure the civilian population while repelling or apprehending the terrorists," it added.

Security sources told The Anadolu Agency earlier in the day that a fighter jet has been deployed to crush the invading militants and that many of them had been killed in the process.

Earlier in the day, local residents in Damaturu told AA that their city was attacked by suspected Boko Haram militants.

Damaturu is the seat of government of Yobe state and there are fears that Boko Haram may want to seize the town which is just some 135 km away from Maiduguri, the most populated town in the entire restive northeast region.

Maiduguri, said to be the birthplace of Boko Haram, is also the provincial capital of Borno State.

Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are currently under emergency rule, imposed some 18 months ago to curtail the activities of the Boko Haram militant group. Many Nigerians feel the measure has not achieved much, and there are plans to frustrate its extension by parliament.

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