Military repels Boko Haram attack on Gombe, 24hrs curfew declared by Gov.

The Nigerian military on Saturday repelled an attack on Gombe by Boko Haram insurgents who, as they retreated, warned residents not to participate in the country's general elections in March.

Many of the rebels assaulted Gombe this morning and engaged in heavy fighting with the Nigerian army. Two air force fighter jets were also used to repel the rebels.

The Boko Haram fighters left in a convoy of hilux cars carrying along dozens of corpses of their members, according to residents.

"They can be heard telling our people in the villages leading to Gombe that they have not come to harm civilians but the security agents. They were also seen dropping copies of papers with messages ?written in Hausa warning people not to participate in the coming elections, lest they risk being killed," said resident Malam Hassan.

The Associated Press got a copy of the message in which the insurgents warned that its fighters will attack all polling stations in the upcoming general elections. The Boko Haram paper also stated that residents should not assist the Nigerian army and pledges not to attack those who stayed out of its fight against the government.

"We are calling on you all to come and join us in the Jihad and embrace Islamic Sharia jurisprudence," reads the papers dropped by Boko Haram.

The fiercest fighting was witnessed three kilometers outside the town, resident Jummai Aliyu said.

Gombe has previously been attacked multiple times, including by a car bomb in December that killed at least 20 people.

following the attack, the governor of Gombe state on today 14th of Feb. imposed an around-the-clock curfew, his spokesman said.

"Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has given a directive that a 24-hour curfew be imposed on Gombe as a result of the security breach in the city," Ayuba Aluke told AFP, referring to the state capital of the same name but reiterating that the curfew would be in effect statewide.

"following this announcement residents are to remain indoors until further notice as security operatives work to restore law and order in the city," he said.