Amosun, Adesegun’s face-off: Power supply to dep gov’s house cut over N5m debt

Lawmakers, LP, PDP, others fault Amosun

By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—Power supply to the official quarters of the Deputy Governor of Ogun State,  Prince Segun Adesegun was disconnected by officials of Ibadan Electricity Distribution company because the government owed the company about five million naira.

Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his deputy, Segun Adesegun

A source within the company who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the state government’s failure to pay the power bill prompted it to cut supply to the house.

The source said; “The government was owing us N3.5 million when we cut power supply, but the bill has gone up now to about N5 million.”

Vanguard reliably gathered that,  the Deputy Governor’s quarters was disconnected early this year due to failure of the government to offset the bill.

The Deputy Governor had written a letter to the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun accusing the governor of deliberately denying him his rights and privileges.

Condemnation galore

Reacting to the letter written by the deputy governor, two members of the National Assembly, Abiodun Akinlade and Abiodun Abudu, a leader of the faction in the state House of Assembly, Remmy Hassan, the state secretary of Labour Party and the publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party condemned the governor’s action as stated by Prince Adesegun in his letter.

In his remarks, Akinlade, a governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party  said he sympathised with the embattled deputy governor.

He, however, said that the National Assembly would look into a section of the constitution that has to do with the rights and privileges of deputy governors so as to empower and protect them against wicked bosses.

Corroborating his colleague in the House, Abudu said the crisis started before the swearing-in ceremony in 2011, noting that  the issues raised by the deputy governor lend credence to what he described as “politics of intolerance and vindictiveness” by Governor Amosun.

“The matter is clear. It has given credence to the politics of vindictiveness and intolerance by Amosun. This is not new to us as stakeholders, we knew this all along. The whole thing started before the swearing-in. That is the politics of intolerance and vindictiveness of Governor Amosun that has destroyed the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and now All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun.

Remmy Hassan reacts

In his reaction, the leader of the opposition in the state house of assembly, Remmy Hassan described the governor as being petty.

According to him; “I am not surprised. What is playing out is because there is a break in the relationship between Amosun and Aremo Segun Osoba and the deputy governor is loyal to Chief  Osoba.

“When Obasanjo and Atiku were engaging each other in the battles of political supremacy, we did not hear that Atiku  was denied his  rights  and privileges. It shows that Obasanjo is a leader.

“In a government headed by Amosun, a former speaker had his mother kidnapped. The governor did not call,  did not send text message,  did not do anything because he is not his loyalist.

“He must rise above pettiness. Anybody who has pettiness in his character has no business in government. This development will affect governance in one way or the other.”

PDP on the issue

Also reacting, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the crisis of confidence between Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun as “the chicken coming home to roost”.

In a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Waliu Oladipupo, the party said; “It was unfortunate that the muted crisis of confidence has now blown open.

“While we empathise with the Deputy Governor on his ordeal and pray that the Almighty God will touch the heart of Governor Ibikunle Amosun to give him (his deputy) what is due to him, we can only hope that this intractable fight will not hamper governance and further impoverish the long-suffering people of our dear state.

“We appeal to the good people of Ogun State to keep hope alive, knowing full well that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Their tears will soon be wiped away by a government with a human face. That is the PDP promise and deliverable.”

The state  Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Sunday Oginni in his remarks  described  the allegation levelled against the governor as  a serious one.

He said: “ If the governor can treat his deputy with disdain and outright contempt like this,  then, it shows  that  an ordinary citizen of the state is of no value to the governor.

“We want to say categorically that he has no human face in his government and the electorate should vote him out and reject him  at the poll.

“Everybody is now aware that Amosun is running a government of vendetta. If he can do that to his deputy, what is the fate of  the common man and workers of Ogun State.?”

No comment—Ogun govt

Meanwhile, attempts to get a reaction from the state government over the issue was unsuccessful as the government said it had no comment .

When contacted,  the state Commissioner for Information  and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu insisted that, the government had not received the letter.

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Amosun, Adesegun’s face-off: Power supply to dep gov’s house cut over N5m debt

Jonathan challenges eligibility suit, picks nomination form

By Ben Agande & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

Abuja—President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday prayed the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to dismiss the suit challenging his eligibility to seek re-election next year, even as he said he will formally pick the nomination form today to contest the presidential election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

President Jonathan

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, who announced the President’s decision to take the form today also revealed that already, various groups and individuals have contributed various sums of money totalling N98.75 to the President to pay for the form.

The cost of the PDP’s nomination form for the presidential election is N22m.

According to the Presidential spokesman, individuals and groups that contributed money for the President to Purchase the form include the PDP Governors Forum; N22m; the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, N22m; Ogbia LGA Stakeholders, Bayelsa State, N5m and Otuoke Community Stakeholders, N2m.

Othere are the Bayelsa State PDP Stakeholders, N5m; Northern Youths Forum, N2m; Central Market Traders Union, Kaduna State, N1m; PDP Stakeholders, Zaria LGA, N500, 000; PDP Stakeholders, Yobe State, N500, 000 and PDP Stakeholders, Kaduna State, N2m.

Other groups that also made donations to the president include, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, N5m; The Goodluck Support Group, Gombe State, N1m; Adamawa State PDP Stakeholders, N3m; Ebonyi State PDP Stakeholders, N2m; Kogi State PDP Stakeholders, N5m; Rivers State PDP Stakeholders, N5m; The 2015 Project, N1m; Team Goodluck, Ondo North Senatorial District, N5m.

Others include Middle Belt PDP Women Support Group for GEJ 2015, N500, 000; King David Generation Foundation, Jos, N200, 000; Behwong Weneng Yere Duk, Jos, N200,000; Redemption 3 Youth Organization, Plateau State – N500, 000; Plateau State Indigenes Association, Abuja, N300,000; Gombe Youth United for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 2015, N500, 000; Gombe Youth Vanguard for PDP, N500, 000; Yamahu/Deba Goodluck Support Group, N200, 000 and Coalition of Gombe Support Groups for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, N2m

The rest include: Hinna Youth Coalition for Goodluck, N500, 000; Nigerian Women Pray for Jonathan, N1m; National Association of Widows, N100, 000; National Council of Women Societies, N500, 000; Female members of the PDP Board of Trustees, N500,000; Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities, N100,000; National Association of Market Women, N500, 000 and Community Awareness and Development Network, N1m.

Two individuals, Mr. Kennedy Ikenna Odoeme and Mr Ezemagu Sunday Nnamdi donated N5,000 and N10,000 respectively.

The Presidential Spokesman said President Jonathan expressed appreciation to all “Nigerians, members of the PDP, friends, associates, and all groups who in sincere appreciation of the achievements of the administration in the last four years, have been urging him to seek a second term in office.

“President Jonathan is greatly encouraged by the overwhelming outpouring of goodwill and support, as well as the confidence of the generality of Nigerians in his ability to continue to transform the country for the good of all of its people.

“The President is also grateful to all the persons, groups and communities who have sent donations, and made pledges to assist him to pay the required N22 million for the PDP Presidential Nomination Fee and Expression of Interest Form.

“President Jonathan assures the donors that he will continue to do his utmost best at all times to fully justify the great confidence they have placed in his leadership” he said.

Jonathan seeks dismissal of suit against his eligibility

On the suit challenging his eligibility to seek re-election, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, prayed the Court of Appeal Abuja to dismiss the appeal for being legally defective.

This was even as an aggrieved Presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, yesterday, begged the appellate court to join him as an interested party in the suit, insisting that President Jonathan lacks the legal imprimatur to remain in office beyond 2015.

Ardo, in an application he filed through a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. A. Amuda Kannike, urged the appeal court panel to allow him to join as an appellant in the substantive appeal filed against Jonathan by a PDP member, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku, challenging the verdict of Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court which had on March 1, 2013, declared President legally fit to vie for re-election next year.

Aside Jonathan, other respondents in the suit are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Njoku who is a registered member of the PDP in Zuba ward, Abuja, in his appeal, insisted that the lower court misinterpreted the law, even as he urged the court to go ahead and determine “Whether Section 135(2) of the Constitution, which specifies a period of four years in office for the President, is only available or applicable to a person elected on the basis of an actual election or includes one in which a person assumes the position of President by operation of law, as in the case of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”

Insisting that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from contesting the Presidency in 2015, Cyriacus, further prayed the court to determine “Whether Section 137(1) (b) of the Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President, if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections, applies to the first defendant, who first took an oath of office as substantive President on May 6, 2010 and took a second oath as President on May 29, 2011.”

He is also seeking a declaration that ‘the President’s tenure of office began on May 6, 2010 when his first term began and his two terms shall end on May 29, 2015 after taking his second oath of office on May 29, 2011; and by virtue of Section 136 (1) (b) of the Constitution, no person (including the first defendant) shall take the oath of allegiance and the oath of office prescribed to in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution more than twice.

He further asked the court for an order of injunction restraining President Jonathan from further contesting or attempting to vie for President after May 29, 2015 when his tenure shall by the Nigerian Constitution end.

However, shortly after the appellate court okayed the case for hearing, Ardo, applied to be joined as a party, stressing that the outcome of the matter would personally affect him since the PDP had already adopted the 1st Respondent, Jonathan, as its sole candidate for the impending Presidential poll.

While challenging his locus standi to be joined in the matter, Jonathan, through his lawyer Chief Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, urged the court to even go ahead and dismiss the substantive appeal filed by Njoku’s lawyers led by Mr. Obono Oblah and Ugochukwu Osuagwu for want of merit.

In an 18 paragraphed counter affidavit deposed to by one Kenechukwu Nomeh, he branded the appeal as “legally defective”, adding that Dr. Ardo’s application was filed beyond the period approved by the constitution.

He noted that whereas the main appeal was filed on April 16, 2013, the applicant, waited till September 23 to apply with a view to be allowed to seek his disqualification from participating in the 2015 election.

“That I have seen and read a copy of the Motion on Notice and affidavit as an interested party in this appeal. That the Applicants application dated September 23, 2014 does not comply with the provisions of section 24 of the Court of Appeal Act, Cap. C36 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and section 243 (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

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Jonathan challenges eligibility suit, picks nomination form

Mechanic abducts, rapes teenage girl for 5 days in Lokoja

By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA— A Lokoja senior magistrate’s court has remanded a 28-year-old mechanic, Abdulkadir Salihu, in prison custody for allegedly abducting and raping a teenage girl for five days.

Rapists

Mrs Joyce Abdulmalik of Lokoja Senior Magistrate Court 1 gave the order, yesterday, in her ruling on arraignment of the accused in Lokoja.

The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of kidnapping and rape, being offences contrary to Sections 273 and 283 of the Penal Code Law.

Prosecuting police officer, Corporal Ubi Ubana, told the court that one Adama Ibrahim of Galilee Street, Lokoja reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division Police headquarters and Department of Criminal Investigation, Lokoja on October 23.

According to him, Ibrahim had alleged that on October 16, at about 1:25 pm, his niece (names withheld), aged 13, was sent to buy Okro from Adankolo New Layout Market, when the accused “enticed her into his house on Agbai Street.”

The accused, who he said did this without the consent of her guardian, also had carnal knowledge of the victim without her consent.

He added that Salihu went further to lock up the girl in his room from October 16 to 20 of same month, to enable him have unfettered access to her.

“During the period, he had sex with his captive for several times before releasing her on October 20,” he said.

Ubana who told the court that investigation into the case was ongoing, and urged it to remand the accused in Koton-Karfe prisons, in view of the enormity of his offence.

In her ruling, Abdulmalik upheld the submission of the prosecution and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Medium Security Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe and subsequently adjourned the case to November 10 for mention.

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Mechanic abducts, rapes teenage girl for 5 days in Lokoja

APC"ll relaunch Nigeria onto path speedy development and greatness - Oyegun, Buhari, Tambuwal

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA- National Chairman of All Progressive Congress, APC, Mr. John Oyegun yesterday re-echoed the determination of the party to relaunch Nigeria onto the path speedy development and greatness.

APC National Chairman, Odigie Oyegun

This was even as the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, former Head of State and presidential aspirant, Gen. Mohammdu Buhari, Governor Rabiu Kwamkwaso of Kano State amongst others said that APC was a party to beat in forthcoming 2015 General elections.

The APC chieftains spoke at the extra-ordinary non elective national convention of the party held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja.

The convention which attracted APC stalwarts from across the country was particularly held to amend some sections of the party’s constitution to conform with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

About 10 sections of the constitution were affected.

Essentially, Article 31.3 was entirely deleted from the constitution to allow new entrants to the party to subject themselves to the nomination process subject to the waiver provision.

The implication of this was that aspirants defecting to APC from other political parties would not be constitutionally encumbered by virtue of their short stay before aspiring to contest election on the party’s platform.

Welcoming the delegates, national chairman of the party, Mr. John Oyegun said that APC owed it as a duty to right the wrong of the past apparently caused by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and restore the country back to greatness.

“Let me say unequivocally that these are very trying times for our country. The times become even more challenging as the 2015 elections approach. Therefore, we all owe it a duty to our country, a duty to ourselves and a duty to the generations of Nigerians yet unborn to put our country first, and put it back on the path of development and the path of greatness.

“Let me encapsulate what I have said in a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States: ”This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in, unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”

“But how can we make our dear country, Nigeria, a good place for all of us to live in when a few desperate politicians are exploiting all the nation’s fault lines? Today, our people are more divided along ethnic and religious lines than at any other time in her history. Just because they want to win elections at all cost, they have pitched Christians against Muslims, Southerners against Northerners, and one ethnic group against the other.”

Oyegun also accused the PDP of using religion to divide the peoples of Nigeria.

“In particular, the use of religion to divide our people portends great danger. No nation has ever developed using religion as a divisive or campaign tool. And ours will not be different. The problems we face, be it insecurity, corruption, poverty, lack of infrastructure or economic growth without development, will not be solved by a religionist but by patriotic and competent leadership.

“What our long-suffering people want to know is who will provide them with security, improved welfare, uninterrupted power supply, jobs, modern health care, world class education and modern infrastructure, just to name a few.

“Now, the only reason the PDP has resorted to dangerous, divisive politics is because they have nothing to showcase to Nigerians to convince them to return the PDP to power at the centre come next year”, he said.

He noted that corruption was at its peak in the country.

“In the area of corruption, Nigeria has never had it so bad! Organized stealing of our crude oil has become a thriving business, and corruption has never been so institutionalized. Where do we start?

“There is also impunity, unprecedented impunity, which has in turn fuelled unparalleled lawlessness. Now, they simply deploy security personnel to lock up the courts just to prevent justice from being served. They organize to beat up judges just to have their way. Litigants and lawyers are fair game in their misplaced strategy to pervert the course of justice.

“To them, the doctrine of the separation of powers is a mere fancy. They don’t give a damn. In their perverted reasoning, might is right! Their violation of this doctrine flies in the face of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This undemocratic encroachment and erosion portend great danger for our nation and constitute a threat to our democracy. But they don’t really give a damn.”

Also speaking, General Buhari expressed optimism that APC would record landslide victory at the polls in 2015.

Kano state governor, Kwankwaso, while speaking concurred with the remarks earlier made by the party’s national chairman.

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal who marked his first APC public outing after formally defecting to the party from the ruling PDP also described APC as a party for progressives.

His words: “I hereby rededicate myself to the task of building and growing our Party, and helping our party achieve its mission of lifting Nigeria to glorious heights and restoring hope to the citizens of our great country. In this regard, I hereby call on all other like minded Nigerians to join this movement to deliver on the promise of a new Nigeria.

“The APC is the party where the progressive ideals of good governance to which I subscribe are wholeheartedly embraced and applied for the betterment of Nigeria.

“I have embraced the APC platform as a veritable instrument for genuine change and enduring national development. We must constantly remind ourselves that Nigerians yearn for true change and APC represents the hope for this change, and a promise of a brighter tomorrow.

“The work may appear tedious and the road ahead may appear long and hard, but our party is amply endowed with all the key ingredients of success. We need unity and solidarity in our ranks in order to face the challenges ahead.

“In the weeks ahead, we will engage party men and women and Nigerians on the future direction of our nation and means of rescuing her from the malaise of youth unemployment, insecurity, institutionalized corruption, poverty, socio-economic decline and infrastructural decay.”

Amended Articles

Some of the amended articles as read and explained by the party’s Legal Adviser included the following:

*Article 20 which introduced a new 3rd paragraph to provide essentially a platform on which nomination process goes through indirect system.

*Article 15(a) which makes all officers of the party accountable to the chairman at the levels.

*Article 9.5 was essentially to extend the scope of what will lead to cessation of membership and acceptance of appointment from opposition government and the membership of opposition government. For this to happen, approval must be gotten from the national office.

*Article 13.2b was to reduce the tenure of the members of Board of Trustees. Presently, it is fixed 5 years tenure but now reviewed to 4 years tenure to be consistent with the electoral Acts.

*Article 9.4 modified the process for the recognition of electoral offices of the party.

*Article12.5 focused on the number of people that will constitute the national caucus of the party as well as the Board of Trustees of the party.

*Article 31.3 was entirely deleted to allow new entrants to the party to be able to subject themselves to the nomination process subject to the waiver provision.

*Article 13.4 introduced a new paragraph which is XV, empowering the national executive council to set up the relevant caretaker committee and also determine the tenure of such caretaker committee.

The articles which were eventually subjected to vote by the party’s national organizing secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso after a motion was moved by Senator Lawal Shuibu from Zamfara state and seconded by Hon. A bike Dabire form Lagos State received overwhelming endorsement by the 5287 delegates that made it to the venue.

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APC"ll relaunch Nigeria onto path speedy development and greatness - Oyegun, Buhari, Tambuwal

TWe ‘ll regain Speaker’s seat, PDP tells Tambuwal

By Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA—THE national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday took a swipe at the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who on Tuesday defected to All Progressives Congress, APC, saying the party would regain the speakership soon.

Aminu Tambuwal

PDP National Vice Chairman, South South Zone, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh told reporters yesterday that God had exposed Tambuwal, who used the party to elevate himself and later dumped the platform that bought him to limelight.

According to Ojougboh, “PDP is a disciplined party. If you use it to elevate yourself and get into office, when the time comes God will get you out, like the issue of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

“You can see how God has exposed them, and PDP will do everything within the law to regain its seat and that is what we are going to do in both Edo and Rivers states.”

The PDP zonal chairman boasted that the party willwin Rivers’ governorship election and that “Amaechi will relocate to Ghana to meet his people there.

“Come May 29, 2015, I can assure you that Amaechi will not be there to hand over. Some people boasted in Adamawa State. Where are they?

“I am sure he is preparing his home in Ghana.”

Commenting on the denial of sale of presidential nomination forms to Dr. Abdul Jahlil Tafawa Balewa (son of First Republic Prime Minister), and Professor Akasoba Duke-Abiola (widow of late MKO Abiola), Ojougboh said: “The issue is that the party has taken a decision on the issue of the presidency at the National Executive Committee, NEC, and if they have paid, the matter will be addressed.”

Before Balewa and Duke-Abiola were denied the presidential nomination forms, they had reportedly paid N22 million and N2 million, respectively.

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TWe ‘ll regain Speaker’s seat, PDP tells Tambuwal

Man commits suicide over N1,000 in Ebonyi

By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—A 32-year-old man, Mr. Simon Mbam, of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has committed suicide after he was tortured by some villagers for allegedly stealing N1,000 from a shop in the market.

The victim, who jumped into a pond in the area last weekend, found himself in the mess when he left his house in the evening of the fateful day

Suicide

to buy drinks with his friends.

While late Simon and his friends were busy sipping their drinks, the owner of the shop raised an alarm over a missing N1,000 in his carton of drinks, but no customer admitted to haven taken the money.

The alarm raised by the shop owner attracted villagers who stormed the scene and gave the suspects till the following day to return the money or face the consequences.

It was learned that the said missing money was found at the door step of the shop, but when the villagers who were determined to get to the root of the matter gathered, the owner of the shop insisted on knowing the person behind the act.

Vanguard further gathered that the suspect, who later confessed to the crime, was allegedly beaten by the irate villagers until he started bleeding and losing consciousness.

They demanded that he should be treated like a thief, even as he was fined two goats, two crates of beer and N5,000, which were immediately provided by the suspect’s mother (names withheld).

It was gathered that the village head rejected what the suspect’s mother brought, insisting that an additional N5,000 should be provided so that the matter would be completely resolved without involving the police.

This second demand by the villagers made the suspect, who felt humiliated by the entire process, escape from his captors and jumped into Aku Pond, which was not far from the market square.

All efforts to rescue him on time proved abortive as he drowned before his body was retrieved by the villagers.

Meanwhile, four persons including the village head, had been arrested by the police after the mother of the victim reported the matter.

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Man commits suicide over N1,000 in Ebonyi

Update: Boko Haram, Troops clash in Mubi along Michika

Boko Haram fighters on Wednesday clashed with Nigerian troops in the country’s remote northeast, forcing thousands to flee, after two other attacks that further undermined claims of a ceasefire.

Soldiers in Borno fighting Boko Haram

Residents said insurgents first overran the town of Uba in Borno state before moving to try to take Mubi, a commercial hub in neighbouring Adamawa, using firepower including rocket-propelled grenades.

“There is virtually not a single resident left in Mubi. Everybody has left to save their lives,” local resident Habu Saidu told AFP, as he trekked through the bush.

“People in thousands left the town on foot because all roads have been blocked by soldiers and it is not possible to leave by road.”

Fighting was reported to be fiercest around the town’s military barracks.

Nigeria’s government earlier this month announced that they had secured a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram and agreement to release 219 schoolgirls abducted from their Borno school in mid-April.

But violence — and further kidnappings — have continued unabated.

Saidu said the insurgents, who want to create a hardline Islamic state in northern Nigeria, stormed the town in large numbers on motorcycles and four-wheel-drive vehicles.

“Soldiers responded by opening fire and two military jets dropped bombs on Boko Haram positions. We left because it is no longer safe to stay,” he added.

Another resident, Muhammad Madani, said he saw Boko Haram fighters firing two RPGs from a black jeep before the air force jets arrived and dropped five bombs.

“We saw the Boko Haram fighters. They kept saying they had come to fight the military and police and not civilians,” he added.

“No one believes them. We know how they killed people in all the places they seized after assuring them they were not going to harm them.”

In September, panicked residents fled their homes in Mubi after the rebels seized Michika, 42 kilometres (26 miles) away, in anticipation of an attack.

Mubi, which has previously been targeted by Boko Haram, had seen an influx of thousands of residents escaping the violence in nearby towns and villages.

Security fears forced the closure of the Adamawa State University, which is based in the town.

The attack comes after suspected ‎Boko Haram gunmen killed several people in the town of Kukawa, some 180 kilometres from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, near Lake Chad, on Monday.

Heavily armed fighters in all-terrain vehicles stormed the town and opened fire on police and a local market.

Kukawa, near Lake Chad, has been repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram, forcing Nigeria’s state-run oil company to abandon prospecting and drilling.

“They (the gunmen) killed several people, especially around the market, where traders had gone for commercial activities,” said the Kukawa local government chairman Modu Musa.

“They burnt the whole market, the police station, government lodge, dozens of vehicles ‎and most houses in the town in indiscriminate rocket and bomb attacks.”

Police officers in Kukawa initially intercepted the insurgents on the outskirts of the town and engaged them in a fight but ‎were forced to retreat because of the gunmen’s superior firepower, Musa said.

There was no immediate comment from Nigeria’s military and independent corroboration is impossible with communications largely cut off and travel dangerous in the remote region.

Security analysts estimate that Boko Haram controlled at least 20 major towns in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states at the time the purported ceasefire deal was announced on October 17.

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Update: Boko Haram, Troops clash in Mubi along Michika