GUNMEN suspected to be members of the violent Islamic group popularly known as Boko Haram attacked and damaged
an elementary school in the town of Damagun, Yobe State, on Monday – a day after a similar attack was staged at the same location.
Damaged in Damagun also were a church and a police post.
The deployment of security operatives to the town after the Sunday attack helped repel the attackers from causing more damage in the subsequent Monday attack.
“At about 1:05 am (0005 GMT) attacks launched against Damagun police division and Catholic church were successfully repelled by the police, who were on full alert,” said police spokesman Toyin Gbadegeshin on Monday, saying no casualties were recorded in the attack.
The attack comes as Muslims in Nigeria end the Ramadan fasting period, which is why the government has set aside Monday and Tuesday as public holidays.
Recently, the federal government confirmed that it was in peaceful negotiations with the leaders of the group at an undisclosed offshore location.
Negotiations with the group come amid calls by many Nigerians against the government entering into any agreements with the outlaw group. Previous attempts by government to have talks with the group have yielded no success and President Jonathan has said that his government cannot enter into talks with faceless persons.
Foreign governments as the United States however had urged the Nigerian government to address the issue of insecurity in Nigeria, largely occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram. The issues, according to the US government, include addressing poverty.
A recent visit by the US Secretary of State, Hillary R. Clinton, involved a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan which centered on the issue of security. Ms. Clinton assured the president that her country stood ready to help with logistics to improve on Nigeria’s security challenges.
Meanwhile, the attacks by Boko Haram continue unabated. In the last year, no less than 1,400 Nigerians have lost their lives to attacks staged or masterminded by members of the violent group.