Sunday, September 7, 2014

Boko Haram captures 5 Nigerian towns in 5 days

Islamic sect, Boko Haram in its quest to establish a caliphate in Nigeria has seized five North-Eastern towns in five days, killing hundreds and leaving thousands of residents fleeing for safety.

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.

The terrorist group captured Bama on September 1 and Banki 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.

The Secretary to the Government of Adamawa state, Prof. Liman Tukur, on Saturday confirmed the fall 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 and acting Governor of Adamawa State, Adamu Fintiri in the town. Both Gulak and Fintirin are indigenes of Gulak community.

Meanwhile, the heavy bombardment of Bama, Borno State's second largest city, by the Nigeria Air Force entered its third day on Saturday.

It was 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 Punch, 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.

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