As the Boko Haram Islamist sect suffers heavy losses in the bombardment of their camps around the border communities of Borno State by the military, hundreds of their members are said to have fled to the mountainous forests of Adamawa State where they are regrouping.
This was revealed by a top Defence source on Monday evening who said that having been dislodged from their Sambisa Game Reserve camp and other camps in Borno State had been sighted hiding in the Adamawa forests, especially those along Zumo area of Song Local Government, and those of Maiha and Fufore Local Governments.
He said, “Most of the Boko Haram members who are running away from the military operations in Borno are moving into Adamawa State. They are regrouping in Zumo area of Song Local Government Area. Some are in Fufore and Maha local government areas. This particular area has a combination of mountains, rocks and bushes that extend to Cameroon.”
It was learnt that they had escaped from Borno State by mingling with the civilians.
Adamawa has a complex topography comprising mountains, rocks and thick forests that extend into the nation’s border with Cameroon. It is a mountainous land crossed by the large river valleys – Benue, Gongola and Yedsarem. The valleys of Cameroon, Mandara and Adamawa mountains form part of the landscape.
The source, who declined being named, said that the Defence authorities that are coordinating the fight against the militants would change focus in the next few days from Northern Borno to Adamawa State.
He further stated that the influx of suspected insurgents into Adamawa was the rationale behind the decision of the Defence Headquarters to deploy additional 1,000 troops in the state in preparation for a similar military operation in the area.
The source said, “This might be the reason behind the decision of the Defence Headquarters to deploy additional 1,000 soldiers in the state.
“The attention of the Defence authorities and the Special Forces deployed to flush out suspected Islamic militants in the North- Eastern part of the country may shift from Borno where some of the earliest battles have been fought to Adamawa State.”
Part of the successes being recorded by the military in this surge against the insurgents is the arrest of 120 insurgents and the taking over five towns previously controlled by the Islamist sect after destroying their camps nearby.
A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade confirmed that 120 members of the Boko Haram were arrested while organizing the burial of one of its commanders killed in the fighting.
He stated that the advancing troops have also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist group.
Olukolade stated that the Special Forces have equally secured the environs of additional five villages of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo after destroying all the terrorist camps sited in the vicinity of these localities.
Olukolade, who confirmed that the terrorists were fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic, assured that they were being contained as they have had encounter with Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations towards the border.
“In Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as they organised burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with Special Forces the previous day. The arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated,” he said.
He said that the troops were already interacting with locals and citizens to assure them of their safety and freedom from the activities of the insurgents.
He denied allegation that Nigerians were fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries, saying that photographs purportedly taken and used by the media as depicting the areas covered by the operations were questionable.
“Defence Headquarters has observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas covered by the operations and wishes to state that the photographs are questionable, as they do not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.
“This also makes the story they claim to depict of Nigerians fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries doubtful. The media is advised to always strive to associate stories with accurate pictures in order to avoid misleading the public,” Olukolade stated.
Meanwhile, Borno and Yobe State governments have relaxed the curfews in their states.
In Yobe, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Abdullahi Bego, released a statement on behalf of Governor Ibrahim Geidam approving the adjustment of the hours in which public movement was restricted in the state to now start from 6pm to 6am.
It stated further that the decision for the adjustment follows a meeting between the governor and heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.
The governor also urges the general public to continue with the exemplary support and cooperation with security agents to ensure lasting peace in the state, adding that the public should not relent in prayers to God for the restoration of peace in the state and the country in general.
Meanwhile, in parts of Borno State, the curfew has been relaxed to start from 5pm and end at 7am.
However, the imposition of 24-hour curfew in parts of the state and the cutting off of telecommunications services has imposed a lot of hardship on the people.
A resident, Mallam Usman Adamu said he never imagine the state of emergency impose on the state could bring such suffering on the people.
According to him, “The last time state of emergency was imposed in some local governments including the state capital, people did not suffer as it is being experienced today. No telephone network, no food, nothing, we are left to our fate. This is very bad, we pray that government consider our suffering and ease this curfew.”
It has also caused a migration of large numbers of people all the way into the Federal Capital Territory, as pointed out by its Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Ogunbayode who lamented that the influx was exerting stress on the resources and personnel of the police command and stated the need for increased resources and personnel.
The police boss stated this on Monday, saying that the insurgency in the North, ethnic militia in some parts of North Central and the kidnappings in the South had increased the level of migration to the capital city, explaining that “the influx is putting tremendous pressure on the existing resources of the FCT police command.
“We are tracking influx into the FCT. We are increasing surveillance and we are recording successes in term of crime prevention. But we must act quickly before the system is overwhelmed“, he said.
Ogunbayode who commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration for her support of the security sector said “the massive injection of resources in term of patrol vehicles, personnel and expansion of communication bandwidth will enhance the existing capacity of the police to effectively police the territory.
“I must say that Abuja is the safest city in Nigeria and so many Nigerians are flicking here. With security situation in the North and South, Abuja is receiving new residents daily. And with huge influx, you normally have crime commission. That is why we need to beef up our security resources to combat any menace“, the Commissioner said.
According to him, the FCT command has to expand the scope of our operations and we cannot do that if we don’t have sufficient patrol vehicles and other contingent resources. I commend the FCT Minister Senator, Bala Mohammed and I know our situation is fully appreciated by the FCTA“, he said.
Ogunbayode stated that his command is “effectively containing any infiltration of Abuja by insurgents and other criminal elements“ but emphasised “the need for strengthening of policing of satellite towns and perimeters of the Federal Capital“ which he said cannot be effectively done without more resources and logistic support.
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