By Sadiq Abubakar, Maiduguri, and Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna
Boko Haram insurgents have occupied some military camps in Buni Yadi, Buni Gari and Goniri in Gujba local government area of Yobe state, residents have said.
They also said the bombing of the Katarko bridge by the insurgents has temporarily cut off both vehicular and human movements between Buni Yadi and Damaturu, the state capital.
Blueprint gathered that commuters travelling to the ‘danger zone’ now have to break their journeys at Katarko and cross over River Katarko to join a waiting vehicle to Buni Yadi or Buni Gari and vice versa.
One Malam Adamu Saleh, who rode on a bicycle to Damaturu, told our correspondent that Boko Haram insurgents now move freely in the areas, brandishing their weapons.
Saleh also said the insurgents presently occupy places that were previously manned by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the area.
He said: “I am just coming from Buni Yadi. I came with my bicycle all the way to this place. I did not use any bush path. I followed the main road.
“We are facing a very terrible situation. There is no single security in our areas. The situation is the same in Buni Gari and Goniri. In fact, the boys have taken over the military camps in the areas.”
A senior security officer, who does not want his name in print, told Blueprint: “It is not a secret any longer that our military forces are no longer in Buni Yadi, Buni Gari and Goniri. We only have our military troops at Katarko. And Katarko is 22km away from Damaturu and 34 km away from Buni Yadi.”
Meanwhile, the insurgents have killed a Camerounian soldier and nine civilians, according to a BBC Hausa Section report yesterday.
The report said the gunmen invaded a town located in the northern part of the Central African country that also borders northern Nigeria.
It said the attack took place in a village called Zigague where they burnt the home of the traditional leader of the village and a police facility.
The report further said the whereabouts of Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Muhammad Timta, is still unknown, following Tuesday’s attack on Gwoza, adding that many residents fled to neighbouring Cameroun while others were hiding inside rocks.
In a related development, the Special Forces in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign have cleared Delwa, Mustafari, Manga, Wanga and Damboa in Borno state of terrorists who have been rampaging in the communities.
The special operation, which began early in the week, is meant to restore law and order to the area and apprehend all terrorists who have been operating in the locality.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, said the operation, which has so far lasted 40 hours, has dove-tailed into the mop-up phase during which the remnants of insurgents are being cleared from the communities.
Olukolade said: “The mop-up phase will also ascertain the casualties as additional efforts are also being made to ensure the protection of innocent civilians during the operation.”
He added: “Troops are also involved in manoeuvres to apprehend terrorists who have been attacking Gwoza and surrounding localities since Tuesday, causing the death of many civilians.”
