Damaturu | |
|---|---|
LGA and city | |
)  Damaturu | |
| Coordinates: 11°44′40″N 11°57′40″E / 11.74444°N 11.96111°E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Yobe State |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,366 km2 (914 sq mi) |
| Population (2006 Census) | |
| • Total | 88,014 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| 3-digit postal code prefix | 620 |
| ISO 3166 code | NG.YO.DA |
Damaturu is a Local Government Area in Yobe State in northern Nigeria. Yobe's headquarters are in the town of Damaturu, the state capital.
Geography
The postal code of the area is 620.[1] The Local Government Area has an area of 2,366 km2 and a population of 88,014 at the 2006 census.[2]
The town of Damaturu is on the A3 highway and has an estimated 2010 population of 44,268. [3] Damaturu is the headquarters of the Damaturu Emirate, at one time part of the Ngazaragamo emirate based in Gaidam.[2]
The northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude passes through the area including 12°00′00″N 12°00′00″E / 12.00000°N 12.00000°E in the north.
Boko Haram
Damaturu has been attacked many times by Boko Haram jihadist insurgents in their violent campaign to establish a caliphate in the northeast.[4]
In November 2011, they killed over 100 people in a series of attacks.
In December 2011, they carried out two bombings in the city.
In June 2012, 40 insurgents broke into a prison; 40 inmates escaped and eight people were killed.
On 16 June 2013, insurgents attacked a school and killed thirteen people, including students and teachers.[5]
On 26 October 2013, suspected Boko Haram militants engaged security forces in a lengthy gun battle and raided a hospital in Damaturu.[6]
On 1 December 2014, suspected Boko Haram militants carried out attacks on the city. The assault began shortly after 5:00 am local time. Gunshots and explosions were heard and a base of the riot police was reported to have been set on fire. Yobe State University also came under attack.[7]
An attack on the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway on 9 February 2020 left 30 commuters dead and communication masts destroyed by Boko Haram.[8][9][10]
References
- ^ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ a b Omipidan, Ismail (June 17, 2011). "Boko Haram: how it all started". The Sun (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
- ^ "The World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
- ^ "Boko Haram attacks Yobe community, targets Damaturu, destroys phone..." 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Nigeria militants kill school children in Maiduguri". BBC News. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Nigerian militants raid northern city of Damaturu". BBC News. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Nigerian unrest: Damaturu city 'under militant attack'". BBC News. 1 December 2014.
- ^ "30 Killed in Boko Haram Attack on Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway". THISDAYLIVE. 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Many stranded as Boko Haram attacks communities on Damaturu-Maiduguri road". TheCable. 2020-01-06. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Boko Haram seizes Damaturu-Maiduguri road, travelers stranded". Pulse Nigeria. 2020-01-06. Retrieved 2020-02-21.