Suspected Boko Haram members reportedly attacked a prison, police station and local government office in Konduga, near maiduguri, wounding at least three police officers, officials and residents said Wednesday.
State police spokesman Mr. Sam Vel Tizhe confirmed the attack saying, “The (police) station was set ablaze.”They attacked the secretariat and prison … They started with firing, then they put explosives.”
Residents said they suspected the attackers were members of Boko Haram sect, though Tizhe declined to comment on who the suspects were.
The spokesman said at least three policemen were wounded but no deaths had been reported. He could not say whether any prisoners had fled during the attack.
Konduga is some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Maiduguri, which has served as the base of Boko Haram, blamed for scores of attacks that have killed hundreds, mainly in Nigeria’s north.
While Maiduguri has been repeatedly hit by violence, Tuesday night’s incidents marked the first major attack in Konduga.
Residents said gunmen stormed the town, shooting and bombing the police station and local government headquarters. One resident said a church was also attacked, but police had not confirmed the information.
Hundreds of people fled the violence, though calm had returned on Wednesday morning. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.
“We had just finished our evening prayers when explosions and shootings erupted which set the divisional police station, the local government secretariat and a church on fire,” one fleeing resident told revealed.
Another fleeing resident said “the bombing and the shooting were horrifying and forced us to abandon our homes”.
“Up to 300 hundred people moved out to neighbouring Uturu and Mantamari villages,” he said.