Bomb Scare: Police shut down Damaturu mammy market

A mammy market in Damaturu, Yobe state’s capital has been closed down by the police over fear of Islamist group, Boko Haram/ISWAP bombing it. 

The market which has the highest number of bars in the town, is located inside the Police Area Command Damaturu. 

The market was closed down on Tuesday April 26, prevent it from being attacked by the Islamist group which considers the consumption of alcohol ungodly and has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on bars across the north-east region of the country. 

Following the closure of the mammy market, bars in the town, especially in the Jerusalem area of the town, have also closed shop.

Yobe State Police Spokesperson, Dungus Abdulkareem told Premium Times that “the police do not want to be embarrassed or caught unawares by these terrorists.

Dungus said; 

“With what happened at Geidam and Gashua, it’s expedient on us to act proactively by closing down the Area Command Mammy Market until further notice. The police and security agencies are also collaborating with other places to ensure adequate protection of people and property”

Security Adviser to the governor of the state, Dahiru Abdulsalam also said the antics of Boko Haram are to draw sympathy by pitching the people against one another. He said the recent bomb attacks on bars are to win sympathy from the larger Islamic population of the State.

Abdulsalam said; 

“The security operatives in Yobe State is concerned with protecting the lives of everyone in the state whether in a drinking joint, in the hotel, worship centre, market place etc. our concern is to stop such attacks and nip them from the bud”