Two Women Give Birth to Babies in Bush While Fleeing from Boko Haram in Bauchi

Two pregnant women gave birth to babies in the bush on Sunday morning while fleeing from suspected Boko Haram insurgents that attacked Gunti Gumi village of Alkaleri Local Government area in Bauchi state.

An eye witness, Malam Bala Kurba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the insurgents stormed the village, forcing the residents to take to their heels.

“The pregnant women were among those who fled the village. I was also in the bush when I saw a group of women battling to assist the two pregnant women deliver their babies. The women gave birth successfully and were taken to a nearby community, where they were kept,” said Kurba, who is the Manager of the Bauchi State government-owned Community FM Radio station in Alkaleri.

Bauchi Police Command’s spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said that some unknown gunmen in a convoy of 10 vehicles attacked some towns in Alkaleri and Kirfi Local Government Areas.

 “Today 29/3/2015 at about 12.25 am,  unspecified numbers of unknown gunmen in a convoy of over ten vehicles, stormed many polling units in Kirfi and  Alkaleri Local Government areas,  destroying many election materials.  The hoodlums further attacked Kirfi and Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters, but were repelled and pursued towards Dindima Town along Bauchi Gombe Road.

Meanwhile, operations are still on-going. The entire surroundings have been cordoned-off by combined security forces and effort is being intensified to restore normalcy in the area.

Members of the public are urged to remain calm and disregard rumours from mischief makers,” he said.

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