Local reporters in Nigeria have said that 11 people were killed in a terrific attack on a local Secondary school by the pursuant militant group, Boko Haram in the northeastern town of Damaturu over the weekend.

Seven students, two teachers and two insurgents were killed in the attack, according to official figure given by the military.

President Goodluck Jonathan ordered the deployment of Some 2,000 soldiers to 3 northern states in May this year amid declaring state of emergency in those states when intense attacks by Boko Haram were killing civilians on regular basis.

More than 120 Boko Haram militants have been arrested in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri alone in the operation to dismantle the Boko Haram insurgencies in the operation sanction by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dozen others of the group have also fled into hiding or across borders to Niger, Chad and Cameroon due to the offensive of the military but are believed to be regrouping to counter attack the military based on guerrilla tactics.

The attack was believed to have happened on Sunday but due to poor communication network in the north, the news was reported on late Monday with the military briefing reporters on the attack.

Military spokesman in Yobe State Eli Lazarus said three soldiers were critically wounded during a separate attack by Boko Haram targeting the military in Damaturu, and three insurgents had been arrested and also confirming the 11 people killed.

“Two teachers and two insurgents were killed when Boko Haram terrorists attacked the Government Secondary School, also seven innocent students lost their lives,” Mr. Lazarus said. He however failed to give further details on how the attack happened in the School whether it was explosion or gun attack.

Reporters in the Northeast have said that Vigilante groups armed with machetes and sticks have also joined the effort of the military to oust the militants’ insurgents prompting concerns by some residents and rights groups that this could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

The UN refugee agency said last week that the offensive by the military has forced more than 6,000 refugees – mostly women, children and the elderly to flee to neighboring Niger in recent months.

President Goodluck Jonathan had wanted to grant an amnesty to Boko Haram by setting up a committee to look into the affairs on how a peaceful dialogue can be achieved but the group refused to lay down their arms compelling the President to resort to military action against them.

Boko Haram is believed to have carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations since 2009, saying it wants to establish an Islamic state across Nigeria.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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