Boko Haram enters in force into Gombe

Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters entered in Gombe on saturday, after setting fire to a police station on the outskirts of the city, firing indiscriminately and sometimes with heavy weapons. These fighters haven't encountered any major resistance from the nigerian military. And throughout their progress, the attackers threw leaflets calling on people to boycott the general elections of 28 march and 11 april, according to a witness quoted by Agence France-Presse. This latter also said that around 11am, Boko Haram fighters were at a roundabout in the city center. While in the late morning, gunfire and explosions rang always, some referred to the presence of a nigerian fighter that would have engaged in combat with the rebels. Note that this is the first time that Boko Haram comes into force in this city of about 280,000 inhabitants.
The elements of the islamic sect withdrew early in the afternoon. A curfew is in force since throughout the state.


Gombe however regularly the scene of attacks. February 2, explosion targeted a campaign rally of President Goodluck Jonathan. The explosion occurred in the parking lot of the stadium where the meeting was held, took place just minutes after the start of the presidential motorcade and caused the death of two people. The day before, a military checkpoint was attacked, attack that killed five people.

Source : RFI