Most parts of Borno now occupied by Boko Haram – Borno SSG

• Soldiers ran away seeing Boko Haram in more than 50 pick ups

The Secretary to the Borno State Government, Amb. Baba Jidda, has lamented that most parts of the state were now being occupied by Boko Haram.

Boko haram in Borno

Boko Haram, on Sunday continued its expansionist drive by overrunning Michika and Uba in Adamawa   State.

The capture of the two communities brings to 13, the number of communities now controlled by the sect in the North East. The others are Gwoza, Buni Yadi, Gamboru Ngala, Damboa, Marte, Bama, Bara, Banki, Gulak, Dikwa and Madagali.

Jidda, at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, added that normal government, economic, social and political activities in the state had been dislocated.

He also said that a huge number of displaced persons was now living in refugee camps in Maiduguri and neighbouring states as well as Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

A source said that when the soldiers on guard saw the insurgents arriving in over 50 pick -up vans and hundreds of motorcycles, they retreated because they were outnumbered.

The source also said that the   arms and ammunition   in possession of the insurgents were   superior to those held by the soldiers.

The insurgents, it was learnt, moved from Uba   to Michika, which is the hometown of a former Lagos State military administrator and Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship aspirant, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.)

It was gathered on Sunday that they also headed for Mubi, the host community to the Adamawa State University.

A source, who confided in one of correspondents, said that the military later deployed fighter jets and helicopters in the areas to chase out the   insurgents .

He added that eight trucks carrying some troops   were sighted going to   the troubled areas.

It was further gathered that the Adamawa State Acting Governor, Alhaji Adamu Fintiri, on learning that many of the residents of the troubled communities were fleeing,   dispatched six luxury buses   to move   them to Yola.

Our source said that the insurgents, who were firing   into the air, were advising the people not to flee because they had only come to engage the military in gun battle.

He said, “The Boko Haram members are now in Uba and Michika, the headquarters of Michika Local Government Area.

“The insurgents who were moving in over 50 hillux vans and hundreds of motorcycles, were   wielding   assorted weapons.

“When they started advancing from Madagali to Uba, the soldiers who were in Uba withdrew to Michika and they(insurgents) headed for Michika and Mubi.

“There was no shootout between them and the soldiers even though eight trucks carrying troops were sighted on the road leading to those communities.   Air Force fighter jets were also said to have pursued them.

“Several people fled the communities to avoid being killed by insurgents.”

One of the   residents of Michika, who is now taking refuge in Hong,   Joseph Kwaya, said, “We left the town based on the instruction of the military. As I am   talking to you, majority of the people in the area have left   out of fear.

“The situation is very bad and we pray God to intervene and bring an end to the activities of Boko Haram.”

It was not only the people of Michika, Mubi and Uba that fled, their neighbours in Bazza and Marraban also took to their heels on learning that the insurgents were advancing.

A source,who did not want his name in print, said many people from Uba and Marraban Mubi were also seen trekking long distances to find vehicles that could take them to Hong and Yola.

A resident of Hong,   Ibrahim Danjil, said, “Our   town is now full of people who fled from Uba, Michika, Madagali and Bazza.”

Efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the Acting Governor, Solomon Kumangar, for comments proved abortive.

One of our correspondents also made repeated efforts to get the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, to comment on the increasing activities of insurgents in Adamawa State without success.

The SSG, who advised   politicians   to   de-emphasise discussions on 2015 , regretted that in spite of the security challenge in Borno State, the Independent National Electoral Commission went ahead to   fix October 3 for a by-election in Jere LGA .

In his prepared speech titled, “Imperatives of Peace before Politicking,’’ he appealed to all well-meaning sons and daughters of the state to jettison politicking for now for the sake of the continued existence of Nigeria and survival of democracy.

He said it would be callous for anyone to be scheming for any political office in the state in the face of   the security situation in the state.

Jidda said, “At this very moment, most parts of Borno State are being occupied by Boko Haram insurgents. Government presence and administration are minimal or non-existent across many parts of the state, with economic, commercial and social services totally subdued. Schools and clinics remain closed.

“Most settlements in the affected areas in the state have either been deserted or access to them practically impossible, thus majority of the political stakeholders cannot, in real fact reach their constituencies.

‘’So, the threat of insecurity affects everybody irrespective of political differences. The enabling environment for politics and electioneering campaign is simply not obtainable at present in Borno State. In the view of many, the thought about politics and pursuit of political interest in this environment appears absurd, callous and morally repulsive.’’

The SSG called for a summit of eminent citizens of the state   to articulate   broad-based solutions to the threat posed by the insurgents.

He advised that the eminent citizens should at the end of the summit seek an audience with President Goodluck Jonathan over the insurgency in the North-East.

The SSG said, “In the light of this grim scenario, it is absolutely essential for all patriotic citizens of Borno State to rise in a united spirit to focus and solve the challenges posed by insecurity, which is a real threat to our collective survival.

“In this regard, it is hereby proposed first, that a meeting of all stakeholders, elders and statesmen from Borno State, irrespective of sectarian, ethnic and political persuasions should be convened to review the state of affairs in Borno State.

“Second, this group should seek audience with the President to present collectively the unbearable conditions imposed on the people of Borno State by these crises, including the agony and pains of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and their parents.

“Such an approach is expected to specifically open gates for decisively tackling insecurity and its attendant economic and social burdens on our state, the North-East and Nigeria as a whole.

“This approach is envisaged to rescue Borno State and return peace to create the essential environment for normal life and politics.”

He appealed to INEC to postpone forthwith, the October 3 election “because the environment is not conducive for conducting elections. “

“At the moment, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area are full of refugees from Marte, Gwoza, Ngala, Bama and other parts of the state,” the SSG added.

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Most parts of Borno now occupied by Boko Haram – Borno SSG