Damaturu


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.
The Local Government Area has an area of 2,366 km² and a population of 88,014 at the 2006 census.
The town of Damaturu is on the A3 highway and has an estimated 2010 population of 44,268.
Damaturu is the headquarters of the Damaturu Emirate, at one time part of the Ngazaragamo emirate based in Gaidam.
The northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude passes through the area including 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.
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.
On 26 October 2013, suspected Boko Haram militants engaged security forces in a lengthy gun battle and raided a hospital in Damaturu.
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.
An attack on the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway on 9 February 2020 left 30 commuters dead and communication masts destroyed by Boko Haram.