Boko Haram kills eight, blows off Yobe bridge

Eight people have been killed by suspected members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, who attacked Katarko town on the outskirts of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

Katarko is 22 kilometers south of Damaturu and a community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, which is the state’s stronghold of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Residents say the insurgents stormed the town around 7:30pm on Monday and first attacked the military base in the town before having access to some houses, killing eight residents in an attack that lasted for over seven hours.

“They came here and launched an unsuccessful attack on the military base before embarking on some selective killings within the town, leaving us with eight casualties presently being prepared for burial,” a resident told Channels Television in Damaturu.

Residents say the insurgents carried out their attack until 2:30am without further resistance.

During the violence, the insurgents blew off the Katarko Bridge linking Damaturu to their stronghold, Buni Yadi, the capital of Gujba Local Government Area.

The bridge connects Yobe State and neighbouring Borno and Adamawa States.

This is the first time Boko Haram militants are attacking Katarko since the commencement of serious hostility by the insurgents in 2009.

Meanwhile, two Boko Haram suspects have been arrested in Damaturu metropolis in possession of Improvise Explosive Devises with the intention of causing havoc in the troubled northeast state.

Although authorities decline comment on the arrest, residents confirmed that the suspects were arrested at separate locations with the devices, with the first member of the sect arrested revealing the whereabouts of the second suspect.