Five explosives on Wednesday detonated in a house belonging to suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in Damaturu, Yobe State capital.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Hyacinth Medugu, confirmed to reporters that the devices exploded when a team of policemen from Yobe and Borno commands stormed the suspected house at Sani Daura Ahmed Housing Estate in Damaturu.
“We received information from Borno command that a house in Damaturu was harbouring Boko Haram members and requested enforcement to search the premises of the suspected house.
“We mounted surveillance on the house and noticed suspected movements in and out of the house. Then we moved into action around 5am today (Wednesday) exchanging fire with the suspects and, one of our men was shot but is responding to treatment.
“The unfortunate thing is that, three of the suspects detonated the explosives and escaped leaving behind two wives and three children who have been evacuated and were all safe,” said Mr Medugu.
The DCP explained that fire fighters were invited to quench the fire from the explosives which razed down the house “but we recovered five cylinders suspected to have been used for the explosives”.
Mr. Medugu noted that members of the dreaded sect are turning Damaturu into a safe haven for their operations in Maiduguri.
“As a measure to check the infiltration, the command met with estate agents and vendors and, directed that the profile of tenants seeking for houses should be submitted to the police,” said the police commissioner.
In another development, a detachment of mobile police officers in Damaturu has arrested six men of the Civil Defence Corps, following the arrest of a mobile policeman by the civil defence that was allegedly drunk and misbehaving.
Mr. Medugu confirmed the incident saying the matter was under investigation and “appropriate disciplinary measures would be meted on those found wanting.”
The police commissioner also said 4,326 policemen will be deployed to cover elections across the state.
“We are fully prepared for the election and solicit for cooperation from politicians, stakeholders and the general public for a violence free election in the state”.