Gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) launched an early morning attack on Gaidam town, Yobe State, yesterday, killing one person and destroying government property.
The attack, which took place around 3:30 a.m., was confirmed by both police and military sources.
The insurgents entered the town, firing explosives, and targeting key locations. According to sources, two vehicles belonging to Nigerian Customs officials were set on fire during the assault.
One of the victims, Dahiru Muhammadu, a 60-year-old night watchman, was shot in the neck outside the residence he was guarding near Gaidam Polytechnic.
He was rushed to the Gaidam Specialist Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Alhaji Nur, a local resident, described the scene as chaotic, noting that some residents were missing. “We don’t know the full extent of the casualties yet, as several people are unaccounted for,” he said, indicating that further details on those missing would likely emerge as authorities conducted their investigations.
The attack has left the town in fear, with the destruction of government property and the loss of life exacerbating the situation. Investigations and efforts to secure the area are ongoing, according to military officials.
Further updates on the number of missing persons and damages are expected.
