Seven people have been confirmed dead, while about ten others were injured, in an explosion which rocked Damaturu, the Yobe state capital on Sunday.
The explosion occurred when a suicide bomber driving a CRV Jeep on the opposite lane of the dual carriage of Gashua road was intercepted at a check point by officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state.
Instead of allowing his vehicle to a compulsory search by the patrol team, the bomber drove off and this led to a chase by the JTF officers.
The suicide bomber detonated the bomb when the team caught up with him, claiming the lives of six soldiers and two civilians who were plying the road during the incident.
The state’s Police Commissioner, Patrick Egbuniwe who confirmed the incident to Channels Television stated that the blast occurred at the Shagari Low cost Housing estate along Gashua road of Damaturu.
“The lone suicide bomber detonated the bomb before the car he was in could be stopped, killing the six soldiers and one civilian.”
“Another civilian died of his wounds in hospital shortly after” he added.
Mr Egbuniwe said the police is still collating more information on the number of casualties on both sides of the police and the JTF adding that the residential quarters has been condoned by the JTF to prevent further attacks and killings in the metropolis.
Channels Television correspondent in Damaturu, Jonathan Gopep reports that shortly after the explosion, prolonged gun shots were heard around the estate.
Yobe state has recorded a number insurgent attacks in the last one year with similar attacks launched at Churches, schools and security operatives.
The attack took a new twist last Friday when a traditional ruler, the Emir of Fika, Mohammed Abali Ibn Idrissa narrowly escaped death when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the mosque where he was observing the Jumat prayers in Potiskum, Yobe state.
In a separate incident, police said suspected sect members shot dead a former Commissioner of Environment in Borno state, in the early hours of Saturday.
