The Borno Elders Forum has raised the alarm that Boko Haram insurgents have surrounded the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, and are preparing to launch an attack to capture it.
The group stated this on Thursday, calling for military reinforcements.
The alert from the forum, made up of retired senior civilian and military officials, came after the United States of America warned of an imminent attack on the city and analysts claimed the government risked losing control of the region, the Agence-France-Presse reported.
The BEF expressed its fears after Boko Haram captured some towns in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in recent weeks.
In Borno, the militants are now said to control an area from the north around Lake Chad, down to its eastern border with Cameroon and round to Bama, 70 kilometres from Maiduguri to the south.
The Defence Headquarters claimed that Nigerian troops had retaken Bama but the Borno elders said the government needed to act, asserting that the insurgents were in reach of the city.
“They have declared their caliphate; independent Islamic State with their headquarters at the all-important and military strategic city of Gwoza,” BEF said in a statement.
“They declared the Gwoza Emir’s palace as their seat of government, hoisting their flag there. They have annexed and are sitting in court in several other key towns and regions.
“They have completely surrounded the city of Maiduguri. It is apparent that their imminent target is to take the city of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. We wish to call on the Federal Government to urgently fortify in and around the city of Maiduguri.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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The military have continued to deny, yet the insurgents have continued to advance on daily basis. It seems this denials are deceptive. What is the Federal Government doing all this period as the insurgents have been gaining ground on daily basis?
ReplyDeleteNaija, we always fold our arms and wait for things to get totally Bad before we take action, this thing started small by small. now our soldiers are fleeing, Elders are wetting their pants. May the shape of Nigeria we learnt how to draw in school not change in Jesus Name
ReplyDeleteWhere on earth have you heard of the presence of a democratic institution under an emergecny rule?
ReplyDeleteThe issue is not the inability of the Nigerian Army failing to secure the troubled parts but the failure of the political parties to put the lives of Nigerians first and put aside there differences. This same elders were opposed to total military intervention because they stand to gain from the monthly government alocations of the state. Nigerians have forgotten that monthly allocations still go to the affected states, the democratic institutions still claim to be delivering the dividents of democracy even in the most troubled regions.
Greed is the driving factor, else how would you explain why one of the most feard army in the world fail to defend thier homeland? The government (All political parties) are responsible and are busy stealing our resources, filling thier pockets because of the next general elections.
God help us and God save Nigeria..
notheners elders never see any tin.
ReplyDeletehmmm why are elders shputing now the forget that the stone that the reject is the corner stone by the way gideon okah has once cut off the core north from nigeria , the bh are their children yes or no abeg the should enjoy living with their children
ReplyDeleteWhich of the Boko Harams? The real Boko Haram, the political Boko Haram, the criminal Boko Haram, the criminal Boko Haram, or the government version of Boko Haram? Yet the authorities are denying. They are going after Borno, Yobe and Adamawa at the same time and zeal Na wao. Yet the government has maintained a criminal silence on the so called Stephen Davies press revelation accusing Sherif and Ihejirika. The truth will spill out one day. With time no big hand, no matter how big will cover this pregnancy. JAY 2, Abuja.
ReplyDelete