The fundamentalist
Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, has seized five
North-Eastern towns in
five days killing
hundreds and leaving
thousands of residents
fleeing for safety as it continues its quest to establish a
caliphate in the country.
The towns captured within the last few days included Bara in
Yobe State, Banki and Bama in Borno State while Madagali
and Gulak were seized in Adamawa State.
Bama was seized by the rampaging terrorist group on
September 1 and Banki overran the next day. By September
3, Bara, another town in the North-East was captured by the
invading Islamist militants. Gulak and Madagali fell to the
militants on Saturday.
Data from different population websites show that the five
towns have a combined population figure of 170, 743 (Bama
-118,121; Madagali -12,919; Bara -11,673; Banki -4,935;
Gulak -23,095).
Earlier in July, the sect had displaced thousands of people
after it seized six other towns in Borno and Yobe states. The
towns included Dikwa -29,026; Buni Yadi -4,768; Gamboru
Ngala -240,000; Gwoza -15,176; Damboa -233,200 and Marte
-15,707 with a total population of 537,877.
The Secretary to the Government of Adamawa state, Prof.
Liman Tukur, on Saturday confirmed the capitulation of
Gulak and Madagali.
During the attacks, the sect reportedly burnt down the
residence of a former Special Adviser to the President on
Politics, Dr. Ahmed Gulak in Gula.
A source also said on Saturday that the rampaging
insurgents razed the residence of the acting Governor of
Adamawa State, Adamu Fintiri in the town. Both Gulak and
Fintirin are indigenes of Gulak community.
Reports from Michika, headquarters of Michika Council
which borders Madagali local government area, showed that
residents of some villages were fleeing to Uba, Mubi and
Yola towns out of fear of possible attacks.
Tukur in a statement said the insurgents killed and displaced
many people in the towns during their attacks.
He said, “It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State
Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the
headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had
killed and displaced scores of people.
“On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, we
deeply sympathise with the people of Gulak and other
surrounding villages and towns whose areas have been
overran by insurgents.
“The concomitant effects of the insurgency like displacement
of whole villages and towns create multitudes of internally
displaced persons whose management and welfare, the
government is left to bear.”
Our correspondent could not get the Director of Defence
Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, to comment on the
new developments in Adamawa as calls to his mobile
telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the heavy bombardment of Bama, Borno State’s
second largest city, by the Nigeria Air Force entered its third
day on Saturday.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt over the weekend that NAF fighter
jets and bombers rained bombs on the city and Gwoza,
another city held by the insurgents, in a bid to flush them
out.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, had
reportedly moved to Borno to supervise the ongoing aerial
bombardment of the two towns.
A senior military source, who confided in one of our
correspondents, said the Air Force had deployed ATR 42
aircraft, Alpha jets, Mi35 helicopters and F7 jets in the
troubled region.
The military, the source said, is using the ATR 42 aircraft for
visual surveillance.
Even as the bombs rained on these two cities, the military
might be preparing to launch an onslaught against the
insurgents in the two cities. It was further gathered on Friday
night that the Army was moving equipment and personnel to
Bama to battle the insurgents.
An indigene of Maiduguri, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said he saw movement of military hardware and
personnel on the road leading to one of the seized cities. He
said, he saw Hillux vehicles in military colours, machine
guns mounted on trucks and other military equipment on
the Maiduguri-Bama Road.
Efforts by SUNDAY PUNCH to get the comments of the
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade,
on the military operation did not succeed as calls to his
mobile telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
However on Friday, the Defence Headquarters had issued a
statement to reassure Nigerians that the insurgents would
be flushed out of Bama and Gwoza.
The statement says, “Everything will be done to reverse the
situation and defeat the rampaging terrorists.
“It is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed
Forces is more than ever determined and committed to the
defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria,
regardless of any odds. It is not only the pride and
reputation of the military that is at stake but that of the
entire nation.”
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency
has moved more of its officers from its headquarters in
Abuja to Maiduguri.
The relocation of the officers to Maiduguri followed the
displacement of thousands of residents of Gwoza and Bama
following attacks on the towns by Boko Haram.
Thousands of residents, who fled Bama, are currently being
quartered at Mai Mutari Day Secondary School and Mai
Mutari Primary School near the Bama Park, Maiduguri.
Many of them were reported to have arrived with no food
and few clothes.
One of our correspondents gathered that senior officers of
the agency were directed to relocate to Borno to help the
internally displaced persons in the state.
A senior official with the agency who pleaded not to be
named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said,
“Hundreds of residents of Bama were displaced and most of
them fled to Maiduguri, but their situation is under control
because we have been on the alert since the insurgency
started.”
When contacted, Senior Information Officer, NEMA, Mr. Datti
Sani, told one of our correspondents that he did not know
the actual number of displaced persons in the state but
maintained that the agency was in Maiduguri.
He said, “Although I cannot give you the latest update as to
what was done in Bama today, I can assure you that we have
been on ground since the insurgency started and we have
ensured that we take care of those that are displaced.”
In a related development, youth groups in Borno State have
scored the Federal Government low in its war against
terrorist activities in the North-East.
Leaders of the groups, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH in
separate interviews on Friday, said they decided to take up
arms, when activities of the Boko Haram sect intensified
despite military presence and the state of emergency
declared in the area.
Speaking to one of our correspondents, the President,
Kibaku Youth Association of Nigeria (a community in Chibok
Local Government Area of Borno State), Mr. Moses Zakwa,
said it was true that Boko Haram was gaining “an upper
hand in the war”.
Zakwa said, “We are fully in support of the action of the
youths in Maiduguri. The people of the state have lost
confidence in the military, especially with the recent
happenings. And as the citizens of the area, it would be
better for us to stand up and defend our land.
“That is what is going on there now. As we know, most of the
major towns have been captured by Boko Haram and we
believe that they are planning more attacks on more
locations that we consider to be safe. That is why the youths
are ready and prepared to go after them and to defend the
area.”
The youths’ leader called on the Federal Government to
“wake up,” while security agents should be motivated and
equipped.
Also, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Pan Chibok
Youths Association, Dr. Allen Manasseh, said youths had
been consulting with leaders in the state on how to take on
the sect.
“The plan was for them to go to Bama through Gwoza, and
then to Sambisa Forest,” he said.
Manasseh added that those in government had not been
fighting the insurgency with sincerity.
He said, “There is no single person that is telling the truth.
Everybody is lying. Everybody should join hands to fight
Boko Haram, not somebody blaming another person.
“I can affirm that the sect is taking over because of the mass
exodus of people from that place. People are always afraid
because anytime the sect notifies them of an impending
attack, it usually actualises it.”
Over 10,000 youths had on Thursday thronged the streets of
Maiduguri, the state capital, protesting against the increasing
spate of attacks in the state by the sect.
The youths, who first assembled at the popularly Ramat
Square Ground, later moved to the palace of the Shehu of
Borno, Alhaji Abubakar el-Kanemi, saying they were willing
to confront the terror group if given the go ahead.
Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, has seized five
North-Eastern towns in
five days killing
hundreds and leaving
thousands of residents
fleeing for safety as it continues its quest to establish a
caliphate in the country.
The towns captured within the last few days included Bara in
Yobe State, Banki and Bama in Borno State while Madagali
and Gulak were seized in Adamawa State.
Bama was seized by the rampaging terrorist group on
September 1 and Banki overran the next day. By September
3, Bara, another town in the North-East was captured by the
invading Islamist militants. Gulak and Madagali fell to the
militants on Saturday.
Data from different population websites show that the five
towns have a combined population figure of 170, 743 (Bama
-118,121; Madagali -12,919; Bara -11,673; Banki -4,935;
Gulak -23,095).
Earlier in July, the sect had displaced thousands of people
after it seized six other towns in Borno and Yobe states. The
towns included Dikwa -29,026; Buni Yadi -4,768; Gamboru
Ngala -240,000; Gwoza -15,176; Damboa -233,200 and Marte
-15,707 with a total population of 537,877.
The Secretary to the Government of Adamawa state, Prof.
Liman Tukur, on Saturday confirmed the capitulation of
Gulak and Madagali.
During the attacks, the sect reportedly burnt down the
residence of a former Special Adviser to the President on
Politics, Dr. Ahmed Gulak in Gula.
A source also said on Saturday that the rampaging
insurgents razed the residence of the acting Governor of
Adamawa State, Adamu Fintiri in the town. Both Gulak and
Fintirin are indigenes of Gulak community.
Reports from Michika, headquarters of Michika Council
which borders Madagali local government area, showed that
residents of some villages were fleeing to Uba, Mubi and
Yola towns out of fear of possible attacks.
Tukur in a statement said the insurgents killed and displaced
many people in the towns during their attacks.
He said, “It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State
Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the
headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had
killed and displaced scores of people.
“On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, we
deeply sympathise with the people of Gulak and other
surrounding villages and towns whose areas have been
overran by insurgents.
“The concomitant effects of the insurgency like displacement
of whole villages and towns create multitudes of internally
displaced persons whose management and welfare, the
government is left to bear.”
Our correspondent could not get the Director of Defence
Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, to comment on the
new developments in Adamawa as calls to his mobile
telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the heavy bombardment of Bama, Borno State’s
second largest city, by the Nigeria Air Force entered its third
day on Saturday.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt over the weekend that NAF fighter
jets and bombers rained bombs on the city and Gwoza,
another city held by the insurgents, in a bid to flush them
out.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, had
reportedly moved to Borno to supervise the ongoing aerial
bombardment of the two towns.
A senior military source, who confided in one of our
correspondents, said the Air Force had deployed ATR 42
aircraft, Alpha jets, Mi35 helicopters and F7 jets in the
troubled region.
The military, the source said, is using the ATR 42 aircraft for
visual surveillance.
Even as the bombs rained on these two cities, the military
might be preparing to launch an onslaught against the
insurgents in the two cities. It was further gathered on Friday
night that the Army was moving equipment and personnel to
Bama to battle the insurgents.
An indigene of Maiduguri, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said he saw movement of military hardware and
personnel on the road leading to one of the seized cities. He
said, he saw Hillux vehicles in military colours, machine
guns mounted on trucks and other military equipment on
the Maiduguri-Bama Road.
Efforts by SUNDAY PUNCH to get the comments of the
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade,
on the military operation did not succeed as calls to his
mobile telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
However on Friday, the Defence Headquarters had issued a
statement to reassure Nigerians that the insurgents would
be flushed out of Bama and Gwoza.
The statement says, “Everything will be done to reverse the
situation and defeat the rampaging terrorists.
“It is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed
Forces is more than ever determined and committed to the
defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria,
regardless of any odds. It is not only the pride and
reputation of the military that is at stake but that of the
entire nation.”
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency
has moved more of its officers from its headquarters in
Abuja to Maiduguri.
The relocation of the officers to Maiduguri followed the
displacement of thousands of residents of Gwoza and Bama
following attacks on the towns by Boko Haram.
Thousands of residents, who fled Bama, are currently being
quartered at Mai Mutari Day Secondary School and Mai
Mutari Primary School near the Bama Park, Maiduguri.
Many of them were reported to have arrived with no food
and few clothes.
One of our correspondents gathered that senior officers of
the agency were directed to relocate to Borno to help the
internally displaced persons in the state.
A senior official with the agency who pleaded not to be
named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said,
“Hundreds of residents of Bama were displaced and most of
them fled to Maiduguri, but their situation is under control
because we have been on the alert since the insurgency
started.”
When contacted, Senior Information Officer, NEMA, Mr. Datti
Sani, told one of our correspondents that he did not know
the actual number of displaced persons in the state but
maintained that the agency was in Maiduguri.
He said, “Although I cannot give you the latest update as to
what was done in Bama today, I can assure you that we have
been on ground since the insurgency started and we have
ensured that we take care of those that are displaced.”
In a related development, youth groups in Borno State have
scored the Federal Government low in its war against
terrorist activities in the North-East.
Leaders of the groups, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH in
separate interviews on Friday, said they decided to take up
arms, when activities of the Boko Haram sect intensified
despite military presence and the state of emergency
declared in the area.
Speaking to one of our correspondents, the President,
Kibaku Youth Association of Nigeria (a community in Chibok
Local Government Area of Borno State), Mr. Moses Zakwa,
said it was true that Boko Haram was gaining “an upper
hand in the war”.
Zakwa said, “We are fully in support of the action of the
youths in Maiduguri. The people of the state have lost
confidence in the military, especially with the recent
happenings. And as the citizens of the area, it would be
better for us to stand up and defend our land.
“That is what is going on there now. As we know, most of the
major towns have been captured by Boko Haram and we
believe that they are planning more attacks on more
locations that we consider to be safe. That is why the youths
are ready and prepared to go after them and to defend the
area.”
The youths’ leader called on the Federal Government to
“wake up,” while security agents should be motivated and
equipped.
Also, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Pan Chibok
Youths Association, Dr. Allen Manasseh, said youths had
been consulting with leaders in the state on how to take on
the sect.
“The plan was for them to go to Bama through Gwoza, and
then to Sambisa Forest,” he said.
Manasseh added that those in government had not been
fighting the insurgency with sincerity.
He said, “There is no single person that is telling the truth.
Everybody is lying. Everybody should join hands to fight
Boko Haram, not somebody blaming another person.
“I can affirm that the sect is taking over because of the mass
exodus of people from that place. People are always afraid
because anytime the sect notifies them of an impending
attack, it usually actualises it.”
Over 10,000 youths had on Thursday thronged the streets of
Maiduguri, the state capital, protesting against the increasing
spate of attacks in the state by the sect.
The youths, who first assembled at the popularly Ramat
Square Ground, later moved to the palace of the Shehu of
Borno, Alhaji Abubakar el-Kanemi, saying they were willing
to confront the terror group if given the go ahead.
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