Boko Haram attack another police post, govt office

KANO (AFP) – Suspected Islamists have again attacked a police station and government office in Mainok in Damaturu destroying both buildings, but authorities denied a resident’s claim of police casualties.

Suspected members of the Islamist sect known as Boko Haram on Wednesday night stormed the village of Mainok, some 75 kilometres from the city of Damaturu, which was hit by coordinated attacks last week that left some 150 dead.

“It’s true there were attacks on a police outpost in Mainok village,” said Simeon Midenda, police commissioner for Borno state, where Mainok is located.

“It was burnt down by the attackers suspected to be members of Boko Haram, but there were no casualties because that particular outpost was shut down long ago and the policemen there were redeployed to Maiduguri.”

A resident however told AFP that about 20 gunmen attacked the police station, throwing explosives inside, before moving on to a federal road safety office, which was also destroyed along with vehicles parked there.

“They killed four policemen and freed suspects from cells and carted away guns and ammunition from the police station,” the resident said.

A federal road safety official for Borno state confirmed that the office was hit.

“Our office in Mainok was attacked by gunmen and burnt down,” said James Christopher. “None of my men there were affected but one of our operation vehicles was also burnt in the attack.”

Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of attacks in Nigeria, including the August bombing of UN headquarters in the capital Abuja that killed 24 people.