Boko Haram fighters early Monday morning invaded Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, north Eastern Nigeria, firing heavy rounds in an attempt to take the city.
Fleeing residents say the Islamic terrorists stormed the city before dawn and have clashed with federal troops deployed to the state as part of the just lapsed emergency rule declared in three states in the region – Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
Dozens of Boko Haram fighters invaded the city through Gujba Road, from Gujba, a town it captured several months ago.
Local security sources said they first crushed a mobile police unit in the city after a gun battle with officers at the base.
Casualty numbers are expected to be high.
But federal troops have halted the Boko Haram advance with a military jet firing at Boko Haram positions, the sources said.
“The military jet had to be deployed to push the insurgents back as the situation is now under control and the entire town has been cordoned off,” a security source said.
