Borno State
Culled from Punch
Early reports of military operations in the
three North-East states under emergency
rule, on Thursday, indicated that Nigerian
soldiers had recaptured three of the local
government areas where insurgents had been
in control in northern Borno.
The names of the recaptured councils could
not be confirmed out of the lot in
possession of the violent Islamic sect, Boko
Haram. The areas where the insurgents were
said to have been in total control before
the military operation launched on Thursday
were Marte, Magumeri, Mobbar, Gubio,
Guzamala, Abadamin, Kukawa, Kaga, Nganzai
and Monguno.
Also, the troops reportedly invaded and took
over a training camp of the violent Islamic
sect, Boko Haram, known as Sambisa on the
outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State
capital, in the early hours of Thursday.
Borno as well as Adamawa and Yobe states
fell under emergency rule by presidential
proclamation on Tuesday.
President Goodluck Jonathan said all efforts
to bring the violence in the area under
control had failed hence the need to use
force to force insurgents out of the states,
especially Borno where the President said
insurgents had taken control of the northern
part.
A soldier who spoke to one of our
correspondents from Maiduguri, on the
condition of anonymity, said, “We have
succeeded in taking over Sambisa Games
Reserve, which the sect had been using as
its camp. Scores of people found in the camp
were arrested.
“We will interrogate them and those who are
not members of the sect will be set free.
The operation is being carried out in such a
way that there is no harassment. The
innocent should not be afraid.”
The source however declined to comment on
the number of casualties already recorded
and the number of persons arrested.
The PUNCH learnt that troops on Thursday
shut down almost half of the state as they
attacked suspected Boko Haram enclaves.
A man who spoke to one of our correspondents
on the telephone from Maiduguri narrated
that the military operation in the city had
disrupted normal life.
He said the number of roadblocks had
increased and that “farmers are no longer
going to the farm, only a few traders are
venturing out to the market.
“Shop owners who sell provisions are finding
it difficult to replenish their stock.”
The source further explained that even
residents of Maiduguri, considered safe were
living in fear.
This, he explained, was because they feared
that the insurgents could sneak into town.
The Boko Haram insurgency began in Maiduguri
in 2009 and Borno State is seen as the
operational base of the sect that has killed
at least 2,500 persons in attacks on
military and police facilities, drinking
joints, worship houses and markets.
Director of Defence Information, Brig.- Gen.
Chris Olukolade, said in a telephone
interview with one of our correspondents
that more troops had been deployed in Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe.
He declined to comment on the number of
troops that were billed to participate in
the major military operations planned to
flush out the insurgents from the area.
Olukolade said that it was not strategic to
disclose the number of soldiers or security
personnel that would be used for the
operation.
“All I can say is that more soldiers have
been deployed today; that I can confirm to
you. On the issue of the numbers that are
being quoted, they are not from the DHQ. We
are not quoting any number.
“The operation is continuing satisfactorily.
Details will be made available to the public
at the appropriate time.”
Another source in the besieged area said,
“We now have more soldiers and weapons than
I have ever seen in my life. Although some
of them are moving towards the north, some
are remaining here in Maiduguri.
“I have no idea what is going on in places
like Bama, Marte, Magumeri, and Monguno
where the Boko Haram people have taken
control of some towns and villages. But
movement in-and-out of these areas has been
restricted.”
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