Nigerian town hit by deadly attacks

At least 25 people killed following assault by gunmen on a prison, a police station, bank and bar in Ganye, police say.

Nigeria - Ganye

At least 25 people have died in eastern Nigeria when gunmen attacked a prison, a police station and a bank with bombs, machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades, police said.

“The gunmen used bombs, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades in the attack on the prison, the police station, the bank and some beer parlours

– Mohammed Ibrahim,
Adamawa state police chief

The simultaneous attacks took place on Friday in Ganye, a remote town near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, but the death toll was only reported on Saturday.

“We have 25 dead from yesterday’s attacks in Ganye, which included a chief prison warder, a policeman and a prominent politician,” Adamawa state police chief Mohammed Ibrahim was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

The gunmen attacked the prison, set free an unspecified number of prisoners, looted a bank and attacked two open-air taverns, officials said.

“The gunmen used bombs, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades in the attack on the prison, the police station, the bank and some beer parlours,” Ibrahim said.

He said seven people were shot dead in the tavern, six near the bank, while others were gunned down either outside their homes or on the streets.

It was not immediately known how much money had been looted from the bank.

No arrests

Adamawa prison chief Andrew Barka confirmed the attack on the prison but declined to give details.

Troops and policemen deployed to the troubled town recovered three unexploded bombs, a Kalashnikov rifle and some rounds of ammunition left by the attackers, the police chief said.

No arrests have been made following the attacks, he said.

Although he declined to say if the attackers were members of the Boko Haram armed rebel group, the raids resembled previous ones claimed by the fighters in parts of the north.

Criminal gangs are also known to have carried out similar attacks under the cover of the group.

Ganye town is located some 100km from the state capital, Yola.

Source: News Agencies