Explosions and Gunfire Rocks Yobe

Explosions and gunfire rocked Gashua , a town in Yobe

state, Tuesday and prompted a military deployment, but

there were no immediate reports of casualties, residents

and the army said.

The military said troops had deployed to the town where

the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has previously

carried out waves of deadly attacks.

�There have been explosions and gunfire throughout the

town. It all began around 3 am and lasted up to six in the

morning,� one resident told AFP.

He said the unrest and heavy presence of soldiers had

forced residents to remain in their homes.

Another resident said military patrols could be heard in

the streets after the shooting and blasts stopped.

�The explosions and shootings started around three and

continued for almost three hours,� he said. �Everybody

has remained indoors.�

Military spokesman Lazarus Eli confirmed soldiers were

patrolling, but declined to give further details.

�Our troops have deployed to Gashua this morning, but I

can�t tell you the situation in the town now,� he said.

The northeast has been hard hit by deadly attacks

blamed on Boko Haram, leaving hundreds of people

dead and prompting a heavy army deployment.

Violence linked to the sect is believed to have left more

than 2,800 people dead since 2009, including killings by

the security forces.

Source: Vanguard

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN