Boko Haram has seized control of a town in northeastern Nigeria, the latest to fall into Islamist hands in the crisis-hit region, witnesses and a local official said Thursday.
Several residents who fled the Boko Haram assault on Buni Yadi in Yobe state said it began late last month, with the insurgents ultimately taking over the main government building.
They have reportedly raised their flag above the building and have carried out summary executions, including of two people who were caught smoking cigarettes.
Abdullahi Bego, the spokesman for Yobe’s Governor Ibrahim Geidam, could not confirm the executions.
But he told AFP: “As I speak there are no military in Buni Yadi and locals say that Boko Haram come and go as they please.
“So many people from Buni Yadi have fled to the state capital Damaturu,” he added.
Residents said the rebels, who massacred dozens of students at a boarding school in Buni Yadi in February and kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from neighbouring Borno state in April, had set up roadblocks.
They were also robbing people as they tried to flee.
“I left Buni Yadi yesterday (Wednesday) because it was no longer safe for me and my family,” said trader Surajo Muhammad.
The gunmen “shot dead two men for smoking and they also killed a known drug peddler”, he added.
Tijjani Bukar, who also fled, reported the same executions.
“I couldn’t stay any longer because I came to realise these people have come to stay,” he said.
“I thought they would be there for a few days but from our understanding they have turned the town into their (territory).”
The United Nations has confirmed that Boko Haram had seized control of the towns of Damboa and Gwoza in Borno state in recent weeks.
There are indications that Damboa was retaken by the military in an offensive earlier this month but details are not clear.
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not just one town falling to them. let it be the whole state since they have the support of the majority in the axis. time will tell who will loose.
ReplyDeleteLET US WATCH AND PRAY HARDER LETS THEY TURN NIGERIA TO ANOTHER 'ISIS'. The earlier the Government checkmate this trend the better.
ReplyDeleteThe army under Jonathan, the commander-in-chief, cannot do more than this because he is operating an Ijaw agenda which is to destroy the north so that the south-south can have their nation. How many security men were deployed to Osun state in a normal election as against the 40 ill-equipped soldier sent to Gwoza to recapture it from boko haram? God break nigeria. Ade.
ReplyDeleteWhy is everybody talking Army all the time? Where is our Air Force? Was it an error that the Government appointed an Air Marshall as Chief of Defense Staff? The president particularly charged him on the day of appointment to actively involve Air Power in prosecuting the terror war but our Air force Has been the greatest setback in this operation. Their operations are always miss targets, the first time they fly pass Boko Haram wasted our finest Anti-terror squad, the best ten that just returned from Israel our clueless Air force killed them without killing one BH member. The next time the Army commander in Damboa called them they came killing the c/o and over twenty other soldiers in error while the Boko boys openly chanting Allahu akabar while the Aircraft engaged our Army officers. Should we now believe what the Shakau said because he was boasting after the Air raid on the Army that the Moslem Allah has turned the eyes of the enemies of Allah to kill their fellow brothers. Otherwise why was the CDS not fired because all I know is that this wouldn't have remained two days more in office during OBJ days.
ReplyDeleteOn this we can not just take GEJ's mediocrity anymore. It is intolerable that boko haram is so holding us in ransome. it's time we all give him an ultimatum. the idiot is just playing us to support his billion dollar security loan. Evil!
ReplyDelete