by Rachel Ogbu

The Joint Task Force, JTF, has released a statement asking the public, particularly medical personnel, not to treat any one with gunshot wounds after some attackers escaped with wounded during a gun attack by said Islamic Boko Haram terrorists in Gashua, Yobe on Thursday.

“Those that escaped with gunshot wounds also carted away two vehicles, police uniforms and other items from the police station,” spokesman for the JTF, Lt. Eli Lazarus said.

The JTF was conducting “cordon and search” operation in Gashua to capture any other gunmen probably hiding in the village, the rest of the statement read.

Commissioner of Police in Yobe, Sanusi Rufai, revealed that the force lost five of its officers and 20 other gunmen had been confirmed dead.

Also, over N9m was stolen from a commercial bank after the criminals seized the bank manager, forcing him to open the vault where the money was. The commissioner in Damaturu, said two other policemen who sustained injuries were currently receiving treatment.

“It is the same group using police and military uniforms that attacked Tarmuwa, Gulani and Giedam in recent times,” Rufai said.

The Punch reports:

He explained that Rufai said police and military men later engaged the gunmen in a gun battle, recovering the two cars and an Isuzu Hilux van, belonging to the terrorists.

The commissioner said two guns, two locally made pistols; two long range rifles; 19 hand grenades and assorted ammunition were also recovered from the gunmen.

He said one of the gunmen was captured and was now assisting the police with information on the attack.

But the Joint Task Force  on security said two policemen and five suspected terrorists died in an attack.

It could not be ascertained if the seven victims were part of the 25 that died in the same town.

The JTF said the policemen and terrorists lost their lives during an attack on security formations by suspected Islamic Boko Haram members at Gashua in the Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has enlisted the support of the United States to end the violence in the north.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, made the request at a meeting with the Secretary of State, John Kerry, in the US.

The minister said, “There are so many challenges we face in our country which the Secretary of State has already mentioned and we believe that with the support of the US, we will overcome the challenge in not too distant future and we hope in our meeting today we will be able to discuss all the areas to further improve in our bilateral relations with the US.”

Kerry, who expressed joy at receiving Ashiru, said the US had “a close association and working partnership with Nigeria”.