Boko Haram attack claims 12 in Adamawa
YOLA – Gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, yesterday, attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Yola, Adamawa State capital, killing 11 worshippers. Another member died in hospital from bullet wounds.
News of the shooting made residents, mostly non-indigenes, to flee their homes in the night and seek refuge at the General Jalo Army Barracks, Yola, for fear of being killed.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, campaigned for the re-election of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State despite the nationwide strike called by labour over the recent increase in petrol price.
It was learnt that the unknown gunmen, who rode on motorcycles, entered the church and opened fire on the worshippers. 11 members reportedly died on the spot and several others sustained bullet wounds.
One of the wounded church members reportedly died later, bringing the number of those who died to 12, even as five others are in critical conditions at the Specialist Hospital, Yola.
Last Friday, 12 mourners were killed in Mubi, the commercial nerve centre of the state by suspected members of Boko Haram sect.
Those killed were allegedly holding a meeting on how to raise money to convey home the remains of three of their relatives earlier shot dead by members of the sect on Thursday before they were attacked.
Police in the state said they were investigating the incidents.
… kills SSS officer in Borno
By Ndahi Marama
BORNO—An official of the State Security Services, SSS, was, yesterday, killed in Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram even as the nationwide strike embarked on by Nigerians over the removal of fuel subsidy paralysed the state.
The SSS personnel was reportedly killed in Biu Local Government Area of the state, one of the five local governments where President Goodluck Jonathan declared state of emergency following the insecurity threats by Boko Haram.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Simeon Midenda confirmed the killing saying, “I have received a report that an SSS officer was shot dead in Biu council area after returning from the Mosque where he performed his 2pm Azzhar prayers.”
Meanwhile, the streets in Maiduguri were deserted as all government and private businesses were grounded although there were no anti-subsidy removal protests.
The absence of protest was attributed to the already tense situation created by the activities of Boko Haram.
State Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Chairman, Mr. Ali Abana, expressed satisfaction with the situation in the state as most people in the state fully complied with labour directives by remaining in their homes instead of doing anything that would further jeopardise the relative peace in the state.
OBJ, Atiku in Yola for Nyako
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar led the PDP supporters during the party’s grand finale campaign in Yola, where Nyako was presented to the people for their support in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The rally witnessed a large crowd despite the strike.
Obasanjo, in his message, condemned the killings by Boko Haram in the state, saying, “Adamawa is one of the states in the country that encourage inter-religious friendship among residents irrespective of where they come from.”
On his part, Abubakar said the election was as good as won because “PDP is a multi-party and will win the election because all other political parties will vote for PDP, the party they all belonged to before now.”
