Reports reaching The Eagle Online has it that calm has returned to Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, after members of dreaded sect, Boko Haram, stormed the town in the early hours of Monday.
A combined team of soldiers and the Civilian Joint Task Force routed the insurgents from the town.
A source in Damaturu said no single shot or explosion has been heard in the last three hours.
The soldiers, said to be from the 7 Division in Maiduguri, Borno State and the 321 Battalion in Damaturu, Yobe State, joined forces with members of the Civilian JTF, who came on from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to confront the insurgents.
A source said: “As we were fleeing from the town, we saw over 10 Hilux vans filled with soldiers driving into Damaturu.
“Not long after, members of the Civilian JTF also arrived from Maiduguri.
“Since then, we have not heard a single shot fired.
“At least going by the account of those we have been in touch with, peace has returned to Damaturu.”
However, the town still remains a shadow of itself as most residents have fled.
A resident who spoke with The Eagle Online said he took the bush path along with his family and they are now in a town about 65 kilometres from Damaturu.
He said they trekked the whole distance.
He said he would make an attempt to return to Damaturu on Tuesday morning.
The source however pleaded with the soldiers and Civilian JTF members not to spare the insurgents.
He said rather than taking them alive, they should kill them in order to reduce the number of the insurgents.
The source added: “It is like each time they come, they are far more than the last set that raided.
“Where do they keep getting the people they recruit?
“The best thing is to keep killing them so their number can be drastically reduced and their ranks weakened.”
The source commended the military for the prompt response to the distress call of the residents.
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