Military fights off Boko Haram as they spread Election violence Message in Gombe

Nigeria’s military has defended the city of Gombe in the northeast of the country from an attack by Boko Haram militants.

A group of militants assaulted Gombe before engaging in heavy fighting with the army. Two air force jets also attacked the insurgents.

The Boko Haram fighters left in a convoy of vehicles carrying dozens of corpses, according to residents.“They were heard telling our people in the villages leading to Gombe that they have not come to harm civilians but the security agents. They were also dropping copies of papers with messages written in Hausa warning people not to participate in the coming elections, lest they risk being killed,” said resident Malam Hassan.

The message warns that Boko Haram fighters will attack all polling stations during the March 28th elections. The paper also said residents should not assist the army and pledged that fighters would not attack those who stayed out of its fight against the government.

The message said: “We are calling on you all to come and join us in the jihad and embrace Islamic Sharia jurisprudence.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/nigerian-military-defends-city-from-boko-haram-1.2104570