Hundreds of residents of Damaturu in Yobe state fled Tuesday after arrests by troops and rumours of new attacks by Islamist militants, prompting authorities to plead for calm.

Residents of several neighbourhoods in the city accused Nigerian troops of moving door-to-door over the past two days and arbitrarily arresting those suspected of belonging to Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The alleged arrests follow a gun battle between security forces and suspected Boko Haram members Sunday that left two militants dead in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state. Police claimed to have arrested more than 30 suspected militants.

“Hundreds of people are now stranded at the (bus station) trying to leave the city, but buses and taxis are inadequate,” said one resident, whose name AFP withheld for safety reasons.

The Pindigari area, where troops battled militants on Sunday, is almost completely deserted, a resident of the area said.

“We are trapped in the (bus station). Commercial vehicles are not available while some people don’t have enough money to pay transport fares,” another fleeing resident said.

“People are carrying their luggage on their heads and trekking out of the city.”

The arrests and rumours of planned Boko Haram attacks during the forthcoming Muslim Eid holiday this weekend have forced residents to flee the city in droves, according to residents.

The police accused the Islamists of spreading the rumours to cause chaos.

“Boko Haram members are the ones spreading the rumour and propaganda that they (troops) would launch attacks during Eid,” Yobe police chief Patrick Egbuniwe said. “It’s a ruse. They are just confusing people to flee the city.”

The exodus prompted the special military unit in the area to issue a statement late Monday, calling on fleeing residents to return, assuring them of protection.

“Residents of the state capital should not panic or leave town as a result of rumours and speculations … those who left as a result of rumours and speculations should return and live peacefully in their own homes,” the statement said.

Damaturu, like other cities in Nigeria’s northeast, has been hit with scores of deadly gun and bomb attacks by Boko Haram. The group is accused of killing more than 1,400 people in central and northern Nigeria since 2010.

Last week, a suicide bomber killed six soldiers and a civilian in the city in an attack claimed by the Islamist group.

Security forces have been accused of major abuses following attacks in the past, including the arrest and killings of civilians as well as the burning of homes.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/08/14/damaturu-residents-flee-besieged-town/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PmNewsNigeria+%28PM+News+Nigeria%29

in as much as they want to live in peace...not at the expense of their innocent children life...
God please we need a MOSES

luluosas:

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/08/14/damaturu-residents-flee-besieged-town/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PmNewsNigeria+%28PM+News+Nigeria%29

Early morning....
MAKE I SMOKE MY IGBO FIRST..!!!

I have warned the Igbos and Yorubas to vacate Borno and Yobe. come down to the south, it will take time to settle down but it is better. Leave those deserts

abeg make una run for una dear life oo! What makes me wanted to roll on the floor was the part of police assuring them of protection lol

The exodus prompted the special military unit in the area to issue a statement late Monday, calling on fleeing residents to return, assuring them of protection.

Ǧ☺☺ϑ M̶̲̥̅̊öЯηīĬηģ Nairaland

Imagine police boosting of protection

luluosas:

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/08/14/damaturu-residents-flee-besieged-town/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PmNewsNigeria+%28PM+News+Nigeria%29

they that sow d wind wil reap d whirlwind

Y dm dy run i thnk say dy re in lv wit boko hara.any ibo or yoruba dat die in dat town is an idiot

mai gaskiya: they that sow d wind wil reap d whirlwind

Na so o.
And:

"When the wood insect gathers sticks, on its head its carries it."

luluosas:

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/08/14/damaturu-residents-flee-besieged-town/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PmNewsNigeria+%28PM+News+Nigeria%29

hahahahahahaahhaahahaha.....make dem run...na dem sabi

timmy1999:
Early morning....
MAKE I SMOKE MY IGBO FIRST..!!!

bros pls remain small for me

lol @Vincent

When would all these stop for crying out loud

The military is killing innocent Nigerians and not BH members! If they havekilled more dan 1400 pple who they claim 2b BH members how com BH is stil ds potent. Our military na butchers!

Are Human Beings still living in Yobe state? i taught is now a ghost state

Run!Run!!Run!!![/b]Ma fellow countrymen dia is [b]fire in d north!Everybody scatter if u are still standing u are on yur own o,o.

savcy: The military is killing innocent Nigerians and not BH members! If they havekilled more dan 1400 pple who they claim 2b BH members how com BH is stil ds potent. Our military na butchers!

Bros no draw us back,go back n re read.....BH claimed to have killed 1400 nt d JTF.

Dem go run nahh....but seriously,when d army are calm we complain of action,when d action begin we go complain too,d 9ja Military I know is dangerous to unleash on pple,but no be jeje dem siddon b4,no coup to plan,nothing to do.now job don dey,dey must run.