8 people have were killed and a major bridge destroyed after suspected members of the Boko Haram sect yesterday night July 28th launched an attack in Katarko town in Yobe State. Katarko is 22km South of Damaturu, the state capital and is said to be very near the dreaded Sambisa forest.
According to reports, the sect members arrived the village around 7.30pm in motorbikes and operated unhindered till 2.00am. The men had unsuccessful attacked a military base in the town before moving into a residential area.
“They stormed our village with some vehicles and many motorcycles, shooting and chanting Allahu Akbar (God is Great). The soldiers in Katarko had to flee after seeing the large number of the attackers. After attacking the village and killing about eight persons and injuring some others, we later heard a thunderous explosion at the location of the bridge; we all fled into the bush. But in the morning, we later found out that the bridge had been destroyed with bombs”, said Mr. Lawan, a resident of the village said.
The bridge attacked is the bridge linking Buni Yadi and Damaturu, the state capital.