“We have at the moment an estimated 90 000 displaced people from the Damaturu violence,” said Ibrahim Farinloye, northeast co-ordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency.

“Around 40 000 of this figure is from the Pompomari area, where the whole neighbourhood has been deserted. Some of the displaced have lost their homes, while others just fled for their security.”

Farinloye said “we advised the displaced against moving into any temporary camp for security reasons, therefore most of them are sheltering in the homes of friends and relatives in the city and neighbouring villages”.

According to Agency France Presse, a rights group and police sources said about 100 people were feared dead, following the attacks.

Trucks and armoured vehicles carrying soldiers had arrived in the Pompomari neighbourhood and residents were given 30 minutes to leave and the neighbourhood was later cordoned off, the AFP reported.

Damaturu also suffered further attacks during the deadly Christmas Day bombings that claimed over 40 lives and wounded more.

The State Security Service in a press statement revealed that three security personnel were killed when a lone suicide bomber attacked the Department of State Security Command HQ in Yobe State.