The dreaded Boko Haram insurgents on Friday attacked security formations in Damagum, the headquarters of Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State, North-East Nigeria, witnesses have said.

Damagum is 73 kilometres away from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, and 23KM away from Potiskum, the commercial city of the state along the Kano-Maiduguri highway.

Residents told Channels Television that the insurgents who came to the town around 6:00 in the evening engaged security forces with a view to achieving their aim.

Witnesses also said the insurgents attacked the military unit command in Damagum, the Divisional Police station of the area, as well as the police barracks and the official residence of the Local Government Chairman, burning all the structures therein.

They said the securities on ground stood firm in repelling the attack as the insurgents who came in large numbers using Hilux vehicles and motorcycles later retreated to a suburb of the town, chanting war songs.

Confirming the incident, the chairman of Fune Local Government Council, Mr Digma Gana, disclosed that no life either on the side of the security forces, the residents or the insurgents.

He also revealed that the Local Government Education Department (LGED) and the office of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) were set ablaze by the hoodlums.

The chairman further disclosed that two Toyota Hilux vehicles belonging to the Council Area as well as the old Government Lodge and the Guest House of the Emir of Fune were burnt during the assault.

Mr Gana also reveals that three shops were broken by the insurgents as they catered away several food stuffs, beverages, drugs belonging to marketers in the town.

The chairman praises the gallantry of the security operatives who stood firm in repelling the attack, saying the hoodlums may have evaded the Fune council area in search for food and other necessities.

Damagum was last attacked by the insurgents in April 2012 were several lives were lost.

The Damagum attack by caused severe panic among Damaturu residents as they are yet to recover from a serious attack three weeks ago (on December 1) by the hoodlums in an attempt to take control of the Yobe State capital – an attempt that was successfully resisted by security forces both on land and in the air.

•Text courtesy of Channels TV. Photo shows Boko Haram fighters.

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