Boko Haram sacks residents in Borno

Following the declaration of state of emergency in some parts of North-Eastern zone, with the military taking over troubled areas in Borno, residents of Bama and Gwoza local government areas were, again, seen leaving their homes in thousands for Maiduguri, the state capital, as the Boko Haram sect has taken over the two local government areas after being dislodged by the military in Marte Local Government last month.

Also, as reports filtered in about the return of members of the sect, a section of the security agencies is worried over alleged local support for the Islamists, a development said to be complicating efforts to track down the insurgents.

Sunday Tribune had reported that operatives of the sect appeared to have blended with the local population within and outside Borno State, making the anti-terror campaign by the military a difficult one.

A security source confided in our correspondent on Saturday that a level of local support had enabled insurgents to mix with the local population, lamenting that little support from a segment of Borno population was overshadowed by widespread sympathy and support for the sect.

“The sect has a level of local support. We believe that support for anti-terror efforts in Borno and Yobe is not as strong as that of Kano and Kaduna,” the source said.

It was further learnt that the rapport between the local communities and the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF), before the state of emergency, was not so cordial as the residents complained of alleged high-handedness of the JTF.

By the time the state of emergence was declared, reports indicated that the military was slow in addressing the concerns of the local population, leading to host communities being afraid of the security agencies as much as the dreaded sect.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the military authorities are still in dilemma on how best to address the issue of local complicity, which is now the most critical in view of the resurgence of the militant group.

On Saturday, residents of Bama and Gwoza, who were seen at Muna Garage in Maiduguri, the state capital, in great number and with the few things they were able to carry from their homes, told reporters in Maiduguri that all was not well as Boko Haram’s presence in their local government was becoming increasingly worrisome.

A resident of Bama, Mala Jalomi, told Sunday Tribune that since last week, people had started leaving Bama and Gwoza, going through Dickwa to Maiduguri to save their lives in the event that full-blown war ensues between the military and the Boko Haram sect in the two local government areas.

According to him, transportation fare had also increased from N300 charged before the roads were closes as a result of the emergency to about N7000. This was said to have followed the long distance vehicles have to cover to get to the state capital.

Mala, who said they left Bama on Friday evening with his family, is hoping to find refuge in Maiduguri until government is able to solve the security problem in the local government once and for all.

“I cannot describe the situation in Bama right now. But I can tell you that the Boko Haram men have returned and everything is going from bad to worse.

“We thank God that we were able to come down to Maiduguri, and we are praying that the rest of the innocent people should have the means of getting out of Bama and Gwoza as soon as possible because they are everywhere and threatening more attacks on our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, as the manhunt for Boko Haram members in Maiduguri continues, the Youths Vigilance Group, otherwise known as ‘Civilian JTF,’ has taken over the search operation in major roads within the state capital.

The group, which has captured and handed over countless sect members involved in the killing of innocent people in the state, wad said to have sought the permission of government and JTF to intensify their manhunt of the Boko Haram members, following recent treat by the sect to the lives of youths in the state.

Sunday Tribune can authoritatively report that the youths are succeeding in the operations as a number of suspects were seen being lined up for hand-over to the military men who park their Hilux van about a 100 metres from the youths’ point of operation, waiting as the vigilante youths carried out their duties.
TRIBUNE