Nigeria: Gunmen Attack Police Posts in Kano, Damaturu

Damaturu and Kano — Sounds of explosions and gunshots were heard in Kano metropolis yesterday evening as gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Dala Police Station and Goron Dutse police outpost, within the city.

At about the same time, multiple explosions and gunshots were reported in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. Yesterday's insurgence in Damaturu was the third in less than two weeks.

Casualties in the two attacks were sketchy at press time yesterday but they came just as the new National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki was taking over from his predecessor, retired Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi, who was sacked on Friday for failure to curtail the rising insecurity across the country.

The attack in Kano, which resulted in a shootout between gunmen and the Joint Security Taskforce (JTF) started around 6pm and lasted more than two hours. This is as another attack was reported on a third police station in Panshekara, on the outskirts of Kano.

At the time of going to press, Daily Trust gathered that in the gun duel, some gunmen and a police officer were killed at Dala Police Station. The station has in the recent past been the target of unsuccessful attacks by unknown gunmen.

Witnesses said the attackers had targeted policemen on duty at the station, shooting and throwing explosives at them. While some of the security men were said to have been killed, their colleagues, however, repelled the attack and killed some of the assailants.

Security sources disclosed that the attackers might be aiming at dispossessing the police of arms and ammunition.

Journalists could not get access to the scene as JTF personnel had blocked the area. Residents, who spoke to our correspondents on phone said security men have cordoned off streets.

"As I'm talking now, there are soldiers and police all over the area and right in front of our houses," a female resident said, adding, "they have been firing guns."

Another resident said he saw the corpse of a young man lying in front of his residence, saying he might have been gunned down by security men. "This one was shot in the head by the police," he said referring to the corpse.

"They indiscriminately shot at people; it is really terrible," he said.

A police officer, who does not want to be named, disclosed that a sergeant was wounded and taken to hospital, while unconfirmed reports said sections of the police station were affected by the blast.

The loud explosions at Goron Dutse created serious panic all around Kano metropolis yesterday, as they were heard several kilometres away, forcing residents to retire home early.

Meanwhile, another series of explosions and gunshots were also reported at Panshekara police station. Residents told Daily Trust that two massive explosions were heard around the station, followed by gunshots, which were said to be going on up to the time of filing this report.

There were, however, no reports of casualties. "It is as if bullets are falling on our roofs," said a female residing near the area.

The Kano Police Command Public Relations, DSP Rilwanu Dutse, confirmed the attacks at Dala and Panshekara, but said he was yet to get details.

Also, details of the attacks in Damaturu remained sketchy as at the time of filing in this report. Residents in Sabon Pegi area of Damaturu, told our correspondent that they heard very loud sound coming from the direction of an outpost police station and Federal Polytechnic Damaturu.

"We heard loud sound from the direction of Poly Damaturu and a police outpost around the area", one of the residents said.

Another resident said "we heard a blast and many gunshots coming from behind a nearly completed high court". Some of the residents living in the Polytechnic quarters have fled to take refuge in neighbouring houses, he said.

Yobe State police commissioner, Patrick Egbuniwe, told Daily Trust that "the gunshots started after 6pm when some gunmen used explosives to disturb the peace, but our men repelled the attacks and there were no casualties from our side."

Source: Allafrica.com