As military keeps watch over Maiduguri-Damaturu bridge
Boko Haram movement from communities in the southern part of North East, Borno State has now become a source of worry to residents especially after the insurgents sacked almost all the towns and villages in the central part of the trou­bled state.
For nearly two weeks, the insurgents in a daring move, overran Damboa town, about 85 kilometres from Maiduguri, and sacked a newly established military base in the town though with heavy casualties on their side and that of security forces, forcing about 15, 000 residents, according to statistics from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to flee and take refuge in the state capital and other neigbhouring towns both in Borno and Yobe states. A security source, however, said the military in collaboration with youths volunteers, succeeded in taking over the control of the area and restored its initial presence in the town after killing scores of the insurgents who had allegedly hoisted their flag. But the euphoria of the cheering news on Damboa did not last as the terrorists resurfaced in the hilly Gwoza town, located about 185 kiolometres southeast of Maiduguri.
Gwoza has been a major Boko Haram hideout since 2010 when insurgency heightened in the state, a security source told Saturday Sun, adding that efforts to smoke out the insurgents from the area in the past have not been very successful due to its hilly nature and difficult terrain. “The last week attack by the terrorists was a daring one and we have to retreat for more strategies,” the source said. Like octopus, the insurgents again took over Gwoza, after killing scores of people including the chief imam of the town. “They laid siege to the place and would have killed the Emir, Alhaji Mohammed Timta save for the efforts of the soldiers. That was why the whereabouts of the emir were unknown for about a week,” Andrew Tada, a Gwoza indigene resident in Maiduguri who lost his brother in a previous attack, told Saturday Sun. Emir Mohammed Timta succeeded his father, Alhaji Idrissa Timta who was killed late May by Boko Haram members while travelling with two other traditional rulers from the area to attend a burial of another emir in the neigbhouring Gombe State.
‘Slain Emir foretold Boko Haram onslaught’
Septuagenarian Idrissa Timta predicted a looming tragedy on Gwoza few months before his gruesome murder by the insurgents. The overbearing facts before him on Boko Haram movement in and out of his domain with heavy arms must have informed the usually reserved royal father to raise the alarm. “The way these boys (referring to Boko Haram) are going now, they will soon sack us from this land. Even this palace may not be safe again,” he told the state governor, Kashim Shettima during a sympathy visit to the emir and the people of the area after the attack on Itzge, where more than 90 people were killed by Boko Haram mid February. The emir had appealed to the governor to beg the Federal Government to send more troops to the area as he repeatedly expressed fears the security situation in the area may turn worse. Barely two and half months later, the emir was killed even as the insurgents move into communities in the area, overran Attagara, Aganjara, Agapalwa and Goshe, behind the Gwoza hills and ending the circle of attacks in the area with the raid on Gwoza town penultimate Wednesday. Sen Ali Ndume, an indigene of Gwoza and senator representing Borno South, described the situation in the area as pathetic, urging the Federal Government to act urgently to protect surviving residents.
Sources from Gwoza said many of the residents who fled to the mountain after the attack are already dying of starvation. “People couldn’t come down from the hills and they are starved there because there is no water and food. From telephone calls by few of them taking refuge on the hills to their relations, some of them have died,” a source who did not want his name in print told Saturday Sun.
Boko Haram’s next move
There is apprehension in Borno over Boko Haram’s next move. Many fear increasing attacks on communities around the state capital by the insurgents may be a ploy to distract the attention of security forces into protecting these areas while they move to the state capital. Many cited the destruction of nearly all the bridges on major roads linking the capital with other parts of the state and neigbhouring states as reasons for expressing such fear. “It is really scaring because if Boko Haram can succeed in overrunning communities that surround Maiduguri from the west, east, south and north, then we cannot say we’re safe here. Don’t forget all the roads except the Maiduguri-Damaturu road have been destroyed by Boko Haram,” Kabir Olaoye, a resident said. He, however, commended the security agencies and youth vigilante for their efforts even as he appealed for more concerted efforts to tame the rampaging insurgents.
There are five major roads linking Maiduguri with other towns and communities in Borno and neighbouring North East states of Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe. These are Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road which leads to Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba states; Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano/Jos road; Maiduguri-Mafa/Dikwa roads leading to Niger and Cameroon; Maiduguri-Konduga/Bama/Gwoza road and Maiduguri-Monguno road which leads to Chad and Niger Republic. All the bridges along these roads have been blown up by Boko Haram, leaving only Maiduguri-Damaturu road.
“Naomi Mbakwu says she’s “not only scared but also worried.” Already, the military has deployed troops along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road where the insurgents have carried out deadly attacks in the past, burning vehicles and killing motorists. A military source revealed that soldiers were on surveillance at Beneshiek bridge which links Maiduguri with Damaturu to prevent an attempt to blow it up. “The terrorists can’t succeed getting to the bridge the way they have done to other bridges. We understand their next move and we are preparing for them,” the source said, adding that air surveillance of the city was also ongoing. He urged the people not to fear.

Boko Haram’s daring moves scare Borno residents