Gunmen reportedly attacked the home of relatives of Yobe state’s Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.

The Vanguard reported that the attack occurred at about 2a.m. on Thursday when over 50 hoodlums stormed the residence of Gaidam’s in-laws in the Gwange area of Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

An eyewitness, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that noise could be heard from the house at about 2a.m. The witness said, “the hoodlums were shouting on top of their voices, ordering all the occupants of the house to vacate the building before they set it on fire”.

Some hoodlums were armed and occupants of the house were unable to call for help due to network problems that followed Boko Haram’s attack on mobile phone towers a few days ago.

“Most of the neighbors could not reach the security operatives for assistance,” the witness said. According to the report, the house was burnt, but it is unclear if there were any casualties as a result.

Escalating insurgency in Damaturu had led to mass displacement in the city as thousands continue to flee the violence prone northern state. Governor Gaidam was said to be away in Kaduna at the time of the attack.