Warning: "Nigerian Army Should Get Ready, We're Coming To Attack Damaturu On Aug 9" -- Boko Haram Writes

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have given a notice of attack to the
233 Battalion of the Nigerian Army based at Kukareta Barracks in
Damaturu, Yobe State,National Mirror reports.

The sect was said to have expressed its resolve to attack Damaturu on
August 9. Also known as the Special Operations Battalion of the 3
Division, Nigerian Army, the formation is headed by a commanding
officer who was said to have received a letter by Boko Haram stating
its intentions.

National Mirror gathered that the letter was received between Tuesday
and Friday last week. In June, soldiers of the battalion were said to
have uncovered a terrorist cell within the state capital, Damaturu.
The cell was yet to be raided for certain reasons. One, the commanders
were careful of picking a date for the raid for fears that a "mole"
within the Army could leak the information to insurgents. Secondly,
the infantry soldiers were said to have advised that men of the Air
Force be sent to "shell" the cell before ground troops would be sent
in.

Already, security operatives are said to be on the high-alert while as
at weekend, the General Officer Commanding GOC of the 3 Division,
Maj.-Gen. J.S. Zaruwa, was said to be in Yobe. The battalion is still
under the 3 Division in Jos despite the creation last year of the 7
Division in Maiduguri, which is closer to Damaturu.

"We just received a letter from BH that they are coming for a visit at
Damaturu on the 9th of this month", said a soldier who did not want
his name mentioned. The soldier, who was livid with rage, said 25 of
his colleagues were killed in Buni Yadi area of the state last week.
He also lamented that some of his mates were currently deserting the
Army since it became obvious that the Federal Government and the
military high command had not demonstrated enough resolve to tackle
the menace.

He said since the beginning of this year, "those idiots (terrorists)
have attacked our camp more than six times in both Goniri and Buni
Yadi and they always kill soldiers and policemen, yet the government
and Army see no reason to solve the problem". He said except for the
Army's respect for the rules of engagement, his colleagues would have
since wiped off both villages.

"The worst of it is that those guys went and bombed the big bridge
that leads to the village, Buni Yadi, so that we in the town will not
be able to go in, while our soldiers there will not be able to come to
the town except they pass through Adamawa State, which is a long
distance". The source, however, said the Army was ready to stave off
any attack.

Since 2012, terrorists have launched brazen attacks on Yobe State.
While some of the attacks targeted security formations, others
targeted unarmed civilians, including teenage secondary school
students. Buni Yadi, Goniri, Potiskum have witnessed increased terror
attacks.