Residents flee as Boko Haram invade Kanamma in Yobe

Dwellers of Kanamma in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State are currently taking refuge in the bush as they fled their homes following an ongoing attack by Boko Haram militants.

This is coming barely 24 hours after reports claimed that the Boko Haram spiritual leader, Abubakar Shekau had appointed a new War Commander.

Kanamma is about 200klm from Damturu, the Yobe State capital in northeast Nigeria. It is also the birthplace of Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

According to residents, prior to the attack, the community saw some Boko Haram fighters but could not report due to fear.

ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yobe Police Command Damaturu confirmed the attack to TopNaija.

He said, there was a Boko Haram insurgents attack on Kanamma, but unfortunately, they lost contact with Police in Kanamma due to the absence of mobile network in the area.

“We will update you when we reach out to them,” he said.

Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, the Boko Haram terrorists group has been led by Abubakar Shekau since 2009, although it splintered into other groups after Yusuf’s death and also in 2015.

When the group was first formed, their main goal was to “purify” Islam in northern Nigeria, believing jihad should be delayed until the group was strong enough to overthrow the Nigerian government.