Eight killed in bomb explosion at police checkpoint

The Yobe State Police Command on Monday said eight persons were killed in an explosion at a police checkpoint in Damaturu, the capital of the troubled north-eastern state by suspected Boko Haram men.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Yobe State Police Command, Mr. Toyin Gbadegesin, who confirmed the attack to
journalists, eight persons were killed on Monday in the Damaturu during a bomb incident carried out by suspected members of the dreaded sect, Boko Haram.”

He said three policemen and five suspected members of the insurgent died during the explosion which occurred around 11am.

He also said two more security personnel are currently at the Damaturu Specialist Hospital, receiving treatment.

Gbadegesin said two cars suspected to be carrying explosive devices were apprehended and in the process of looking for enforcement to convey the suspects to the state Police Command, the suspected terrorists triggered the Improvised Explosive Devices which killed five people on the spot, while three more died later in the hospital.

The PPRO said men of the Explosive Ordinance Department of the state Police Command were deployed to diffuse more IEDs discovered but have not yet exploded at the scene.

He called on the people of the state to be watchful as the terrorists seemed to be on the rampage over the past few days.

He also called on the people of the state to always obey security rules, insisting that the Eid-el-Fitr bombings in Damaturu three days back would have been averted if the law abiding people of the state had respected the restriction of vehicular movement in the troubled state capital.

Monday’s suicide bomb attack came three days after a twin bomb blasts killed 15 people in the same town during Eid-el- Fitri celebration.