Boko Haram attacks Geidam, Buni Yadi to prevent polls

There have been attacks in two communities in north east Nigerian state of Yobe in the early hours of today by the Boko Haram insurgents to prevent residents from taking part in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The first attack occurred at about 6:30 am in Geidam, the home town of the state governor, Governor Ibrahim Geidam.

The second attack took place at about noon in Buni Yadi where two people were reportedly injured.

Many residents fled the community for fear of further attacks by the militants.

Army spokesman, Colonel Musa Sagir confirmed the attack on Geidam in a statement.

He described the incident as a futile attack on a security outpost in Geidam general area but says no casualty was recorded.

According to him, the situation is calm and peaceful and people have turned out to cast their votes without any hindrance.

 Boko Haram, which opposes a secular Nigeria, gained international notoriety in April 2014 when it kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in the northern town of Chibok.

 Nigeria’s government has always insists that Boko Haram has been decimated, an offshoot of the group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province still carries out regular attacks in north eastern Nigeria. Those attacks have piled pressure on the country’s leader, Muhamadu Buhari, with many voters questioning his ability to control the insurgency.