Boko Haram attack: Gov. Gaidam, candidates, thousands likely to miss voting 

Boko Haram militants’ attack on Gaidam town, Yobe state, is likely to disenfranchise the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, Senatorial and National Assembly candidates and hundreds of thousands of voters from today’s elections.

Daily Trust gathered that the attackers stormed the town around 6:15am and began shooting sporadically.

A resident, who fled the town said that men, women, children and community leaders have all scampered for safety.

A senior security source told our correspondent that the attackers drove into the town in 3 Hilux vans and went straight to the military location.

“The terrorists met their waterloo; now, we learnt that four other vehicles loaded with the terrorists are coming, we put our men strategically to neutralize them on arrival,” he said.

He appealed that residents should return and exercise their civic rights, and that as the security operatives, they would do everything possible to ensure safety of lives and property.

The attack, which started barely an hour to the Presidential and National Assembly elections is likely to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters that are currently taking refuge in bush and villages where they cannot vote.

A resident, who simply gave his name as Muhammad said they were told earlier, around 3:00am by villagers in Maladari, about 6km to Gaidam that the insurgent have gathered for the planned attack.

“By 6:15, the shooting started and all fled for safety. We are now in Bukarti village, and have decided to move on to Yunusari because shootings are still raging in Gaidam town,” he said.

When asked, if they would returned to cast their votes should the military subdued that attackers, he said “We will definitely return, as soon as the shooting subsides.”

Gaidam town had in recent times recorded many attacks that left soldiers and the insurgents dead with some equipment destroyed.

However, the convoy of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is still in Damaturu with no clue of the next step to take.