Reports from Gombe say Nigerian military has successfully repelled attempts by suspected Islamist Boko Haram Sect from taking over the city this Saturday.

Eyewitnesses say the insurgents attacked the city early morning having successfully conquered Dadin Kowa town, some 40 Km east of Gombe metropolis and surrounding villages.

Residents of BCGA and Yelenguruza neighbourhood in Gombe say there were sound of bombs and artillery guns in the early hours of Saturday extending till noon.

Military fighter jets were also seen carrying out attacks in areas where the insurgent were said to occupy.

A resident of Hina village, 20 Km along Gombe – Dadin Kowa road, Gambo Bright said there was mass movement by people of the village running in different directions, some towards Gombe, while others towards the popular Bima Hills.

He said “the sound of heavy gunshot by members of the sect woke us up and we had to run for our lives. If you hear the sound of their guns you will know that we are only risking the lives of our soldiers in fighting against this people – you can’t compare what our soldiers have with what these people are firing.

“I ran through the bush on my motorcycle, not knowing the direction I was taking, and somehow, miraculously I found myself in Deba – the Local Government Headquarters.

A resident of Gombe Hassan Shuaibu says the insurgents entered the town through different routes – wide apart and carried out their attacks.

Another resident said “it appeared the military had intelligent report on the attack and therefore stationed their men along Bajoga Road, on the northern axis of Gombe metropolis – only for them to be taken unaware by the insurgents through the eastern axis.

We hear they had their way despite the few soldiers that confronted them around Hina Junction outskirts of Gombe.”

According to him places attacked in Gombe metropolis include the Police Station in Dadin Kowa Park, the State Police Criminal Investigation Department, and the Army Quarter Guard. The Police Public Relations Officer, Fwaje Attajiri’s phone number was not reachable to confirm the information.

A Gombe based Journalists, who chose to remain anonymous for security reasons told AFRICA PRIME NEWS that “everywhere is calm now now, but there is a 24 hour curfew in place which restricts people from moving.”

About five suicide attacks had been carried out in Gombe this year – the last – two weeks ago, shortly after the re-election rally of President Goodluck Jonathan in Gombe township stadium.

Last year attacks were made by the Islamist insurgents on Nafada, Bajoga and Ashaka towns, but in each case, they were overpowered by the Nigerian military.

A 24hours curfew has been imposed on Gombe and environs in Northeast Nigeria, following attack by members of Islamist Boko Haram Sect.

A statement by Secretary to the Sate Government Sule Bage, asked residents to remain indoors and allow the military take control of the situation.

Eyewitnesses say the Insurgents made attempt to overrun the Nigerian Army Barracks in Gombe but were met with stiff resistance, which repelled their attacks.

Residents of BCGA and Yelenguruza neighbourhoods of the metropolis say they woke up this morning – to deafening sound of bombs and guns – and discovered they were under siege by Boko Haram.

The military engaged the Sect in battle using air and artilery might and successfully repelled attacks on the Barracks and city.

Mr. Istifanus, a resident of State Low Cost Housing Estate says “as I spaek with you this afternoon, there is no movement in the area and everywhere seems to be quiet, except for few sounds of gunshots at intervals.”

MORE LATER….

By Bello Adisa

Stakeholders on maternal health in Nigeria have called on professional medical bodies to step up checks on mandatory continuous education of members to reduce maternal deaths in the country.

In a communique at the end of a one day Forum on Maternal Health Accountability in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria, the stakeholders expressed concern on how Nigerian women keep dying in pregnancy and childbirth related cases.

They stressed that quackery and unethical practices have led to the death of many women hence the need for professional bodies, as well as regulatory bodies to step up surveillance on health service providers with a view to addressing such deaths.

The stakeholders called on government to ensure timely supply of drugs and other consumable at the public health facilities to encourage patronage by citizens.

Participants at the Forum also want civil society organisations and the media to hold government to account on providing accessible healthcare services to the populace.

The communique in parts read, “Government should ensure adequate, and availability of Drugs and consumables in health facilities.

“The media should partner CSO’s and showcase MCH programs in Kaduna state.

“The media should allocate more time in their news reportage and. Programming and focus on maternal and child health issues.

“The CSO’s should continue in their Advocacy to reach out to more stakeholders,

“The CSO’s should continue with sensitization in the communities for community members to patronize health facilities for maternal health attention.

“The CSO’s should collaborate with the media executives on promoting maternal health issues in Kaduna state,” the communique however reads.

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Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP has welcome the postponement of the country’s general elections by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
A statement by Director of Media and Publicity of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Femi Fani-Kayode, says INEC ”must be commended for showing the courage to shift the elections after acknowledging the fact that its state of preparedness was not 100 per cent.”
The statement further says, “Since this decision has been taken in the interest of deepening democracy and in national interest, we accept it in good faith and we commend INEC’s courage and obvious commitment to ensuring a free and fair election.”
But in a reaction, the opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC, through its National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun says “this is clearly a major setback for Nigerian democracy, and our Party is meeting in emergency session to study its implications and will inform Nigerians of its decisions in the next few days.
“In the meantime, though what has happened is highly provocative, I strongly appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and desist from violence and any activity which will compound this unfortunate development. We must not fall into this obvious trap. Change we must. They can only delay it; No one can stop it.

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally announced its decision to “adjust” the country’s election timetable for the 2015 general elections.

Chairman of the Commission Attahiru Jega, saturday night told journalist in Abuja, the decision to postpone the elections was based on security concerns.

He said the presidential and national assembly elections will now hold on March 28, while the governorship and house of assembly elections will hold on April 11.

Jega said security agencies had informed INEC of embarking a six-week special operation against Islamist Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern region of the country and would prefer not to be distracted by the elections.

According to INEC Chairman. the military informed him that the operations are due to commence on February 14, the same date INEC intends holding the presidential and national assembly elections.

Jega said the absence of security agencies to provide cover for the conduct of the election therefore rendered the process a risky one.

Contrary to the rumours going rounds, Jega said INEC was not forced by anyone to shift the elections – INEC will not risk the lives of about 700,000 workers who would be involve in conducting the elections.

Earlier on Thursday, at the National Council of State, Jega informed the gathering of the commissions readiness to conduct the elections, but the Nigerian military chiefs said the security agencies were overstretched by the scaling-up of the war against Islamists Boko Haram group.

Apart from the security issues, there had also been genuine concerns on over 30 million voters who were yet to collect their permanent voter cards, going ahead to conduct the elections would mean disenfranchising them from casting votes in the general elections.