By Musdapha Ilo

Three policemen were among eight persons killed in an explosion at a police checkpoint in Damaturu, Yobe state capital, around 11.00 am on Monday, the state police authorities have said.

The Yobe State police spokesman, Toyin Gbadegesin, said the five other victims were suspected Boko Haram members, who were killed as they detonated Improvised Explosives Devices, IEDs, to avoid being taken into custody by security operatives, adding that two other security operatives injured in the attack were receiving treatment at the Damaturu Specialist Hospital.

According to Gbadegesin, security agents apprehended two cars suspected of carrying explosives and as reinforcement was called to transport them to the police headquarters in the state, the suspects triggered the explosives. Five of the victims died on the spot while three died in the hospital.

The police also said men of its anti-bomb squad deployed to diffuse other IEDs discovered were yet to successfully diffuse them as at the time of filing this report.

The police spokesperson, who said last Friday’s Ed-el-Fitr bombings in Damaturu would have been averted if residents obeyed restriction on vehicular movement, advised members of the public to be more vigilant as the insurgents step up attacks on soft targets.