, on Tuesday, shut down their mammy market in the state capital, Damaturu, over fear that the Islamist group, Boko Haram/ISWAP, is planning to bomb it.The Islamist group considers the consumption of alcohol ungodly and has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on bars across the country’s north-east where it is primarily active.
PREMIUM TIMES learned that the police took the decision to close the market to prevent it from being attacked by the Islamist group. 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, who confirmed the closure of the market told PREMIUM TIMES, that “the police do not want to be embarrassed or caught unawares by these terrorists.“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,” Mr Dungus informed.