Gombe; Repelled Boko Haram attackers threaten polling centres bombing on election day

Copy of the Boko Haram threat letter
(Obtained by Blogger)

By Blogger

Boko Haram terrorists who attempted to attack Gombe town in Northeast Nigeria but got repelled by soldiers had warned in leaflets they dropped along the way that polling centres would be their main target for bombing on election days. 

They also threaten to attack any group or community they would suspect to be giving any kind of support to Nigeria security forces against their cause. 

Gombe came under heavy attack today (Saturday,14th February) when the insurgent drove in over 20 Toyota Hillux patrol vans with fighters of about the size of a battalion. 

Sources outside Gombe town said the Boko Haram gunmen didn't spare villages like Lubo and Dadinkowa as they head towards the capital town. This has not been able to ascertain if there were any civilian casualty in those villages‎ yet. 

The fight that ensued between soldiers holding the gates of Gombe and the attacking Boko Haram terrorists lasted for about three hours.  ‎Air support from the Nigerian Air force jets came hours into the battle that occurred just 3km outside the town. 

‎Though the military has not issued any statement (yet) on the incident, villagers outside Gome said they saw the terrorists leaving in a shape that wasn't as dandy as when they were taking the attack to Gombe.  

Boko Haram were spotted driving in dozens of vans, some without tyres, others had their  windscreens shattered. Some other vehicles were also seen carrying bodies of their members killed in the shootout.

 A villager  who spoke to Echoes News on phone said‎ "they were  telling our people along the way leading to Gombe that they have not come to harm civilians but the security agents; they were also dropping copies of papers with messages ‎written Hausa warning people not to participate in the coming elections, lest they risk being killed", said the source whose is being protected by this Blog for his safety.

The threat message reads; "Message from Jama'atu Ahlil Sunnah Liddawati Wal Jihad. 

To the People of Nigeria. 

1. Any person‎ that identifies himself with Islam, should distance his or herself from polling centres in the coming elections, if he or she desires to live longer; because we will be attacking all the identified polling centres during the elections. 

2. Every person or community that desires peace should desist supporting the security operatives against us, and should dare not attempt fighting us; because we don't take fight to those that stay clear of our affairs. And in today's attack we did not come to attack the civilian populace because you have not interfere in our affairs. 

3. And finally, we are calling on you all to come and join us in this Jihad and embrace Islamic Sharia ‎jurisprudence because it is made obligatory to us by God".  

Calm has since returned to Gombe town as residents have resumed their interrupted valentine activities.