SITUATION REPORT AND UPDATE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF BOKO HARAM IN THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MAIDUGURI FOR THE LAST ONE MONTH

SITUATION REPORT AND UPDATE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF BOKO HARAM IN THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MAIDUGURI FOR THE LAST ONE MONTH

The last one month has seen the intensification and aggressive devastation of the Boko Haram activities in Northern, Central and Southern part of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. The brutality and callousness with which people are killed can only be compared to that of the ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Many of our people are being forced out of their ancestral homes, villages and towns.

Right now, thousands are living in caves on the mountains, some in the forest; the few who were able to escape are being absorbed by friends and relatives in Maiduguri, Mubi and Yola. Thousands have managed to escape into the Cameroons and are living under very difficult conditions of lack of food, shelter and medication.

What is very worrying and discouraging in the whole scenario, is the attitude of the military whom we mortgage and depend on for security. In the face of these attacks they flee and ask civilians to do the same. There is no doubt that the morale of the Security men and women is at its lowest ebb in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.

The level of sophistication and capabilities that these terrorists have attained within five years is very revealing and scary. The mastery and tact with which they fight is unequalled to our Military. Their resilience can be compared to that of trained Marines. That is why they are able to over-run towns and villages almost unchallenged. They can boast of Armored tanks and APC, rocket launchers, Anti Aircraft and Anti Tank Destroyers, Sub-Machine guns, new and latest guns AK 47 and an inexhaustible boxes of ammunitions and bullets.

While I refused to believe a single narration of this reality because both Christians and Muslims are being affected, both Christians and Muslims have been killed; both Christians and Muslims have been driven out of their ancestral homes, villages and towns, Christians and Muslims have been Internally Displaced and are refuges in their own home state. There is still a religious under-tone to this whole mess. We might shy away from it, we may be silent and unable to speak up or speak out now against the plan to Islamize the Northeast and eventually Nigeria. But what we are witnessing in Northern Adamawa is a clear confirmation and the unfolding of this agenda. But I am speaking as a leader and shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri and how much destruction and devastation we have seen and are still going through.

The almost inaction of the government, the lukewarm attitude and the silence of the government is very disturbing. There is a total disconnection between what our so called leaders in Abuja report in the media and the reality on ground. We wish they have the courage to fly into these areas and see things for themselves. Our people are dying every day and in most cases with no one to bury them decently, they are left to rot; their homes and properties looted; they have become slaves and prisoners in their fatherland, here is a government that cannot safe guard the lives of its citizens and indeed life has become so cheap that it can be wasted any moment. We use to think that salt is the cheapest commodity in the market, well, life is cheaper now especially in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.

Whatever conspiracy theories there are about this whole issue of Boko haram insurgency, the sponsors of this delta force for killing and their sympathizers; the bottom line is that the government and our political leaders have failed us and we have lost total trust and confidence in our government and our leaders. Imagine, in one of the Northeastern States, people are being killed and slaughtered, politicians were busy organizing for primary elections probably to come and rule over monkeys and apes after the people have been killed and wiped out. It is only in Nigeria that politics is more important than human lives and security. The total disconnect and insensitivity of our leaders to the plight of their citizens betrays the Africanness and the Nigerian spirit in us and we must all bury our heads in shame at this moment in our history. Are we really our brothers and sisters keepers?

I know we have presented a comprehensive report and documentation of the destructions that have been carried out in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri over the years, but as things stand now, in the last one month more Parishes have been closed down and the people and the Priests are on the run.

    St Peters Pulka: The parish Church was burnt down, the Rectory looted and with over twenty (20) outstation Churches closed and burnt down. These include: St. Paul Mararaba, St. Augustine Igadala and the Church in Gwoza. A newly constructed Diocesan Hospital to the tones of millions in Pulka has been burnt down. Most of the people managed to escape to Kolfata in the Cameroons. Many young people were forcefully taken and conscripted into the Boko Haram and are currently receiving training in the captured Mobile Base in Limankara. Women who could not escape were forced to convert to Islam and married out to the terrorists; some of the elderly who cannot escape are being killed, some are left to die from hunger and starvation. This is the fate of every single town or village that has fallen into their hands. Killings, destruction, looting, forced marriage, forced recruitment or conscription, forced conversion to Islam and mounting of their flags and declaration of Sharia’ah or caliphate mark their activities.
    St Denis Madagali was captured about two weeks ago, the Fathers house vandalized, the priest’s car with valuable parish documents like Baptism registers, Marriage registers were lost. In fact, they are using the Parish Church and the Rectory as one of their operational bases. A good number of our Churches were burnt down like in Vengo, Gubla and Maggar.

    Louis Mataka, the Church and the Parish house not touched but the village has been abandoned. A good number of people were killed.

    Peter’s Gulak: Gulak the Local Government headquarters of Madagali in Adamawa State was captured by the Insurgents last week where over 3000 thousand Nigerian soldiers were stationed with all their weapons but were either asked to withdraw or decide to run away an hour or two before the Terrorists took over the town. Many were killed, Churches burnt down and destroyed, many young men conscripted or recruited forcefully; Young girls women taken as wives and slaves.
    Joseph’s Kaya where we have the Diocesan Catechetical Training Centre is just three kilometers to Gulak. The able bodied have escaped living behind the sick and the elderly.
    Pius X Shuwa: Here we have St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary that was attacked and invaded by the Terrorists on 27th February 2014. God was gracious the Priests and Minor seminarians were able to escape unharmed into the bush. The Minor Seminary has been shut down at the moment. Shuwa also houses the Augustinian Sisters, with their Novitiate and Clinic. The Clinic was attacked and vandalized in the February attack. The Priests and all the Rev Sisters have deserted the area. Some Outstations Churches have been burnt down like Maigana.

    Ann’s Michika: Michika was taken over by the terrorists on Sunday 8th September. One of the Priests escaped narrowly and spent the night trekking in the forest. Thank God he was able to find his way to Yola.
    Our Lady of Consolation (OLC) Bazza: Bazza was taken over the same day with Michika. Many people were killed and forced to flee, some are trapped in their homes especially the sick and elderly. Others include: St. Peter’s Yaffa, Catholic Church Betso, St. John Mishara, the Parishes within Mubi were also badly affected as a good number of people deserted the area.

It is important to know that all these towns that have been captured by the Terrorists are connected by the Federal Road and it makes it easier for them to take town after town since they are mobile and they move in convoy.

The next major town they are targeting in Adamawa State is Mubi and unless urgent steps are taken, Mubi will also fall into their hands.

Right now we have close to twenty (20) Priests taking refuge in Yola. Thank God for our brother, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza who has been kind to accept them and assigned them to parishes within Yola where they can at least eat and sleep.

It may interests you to know the towns that are being controlled conveniently by the Boko Haram. Where their flags are flying in Borno, Yobe States and parts of Adamawa State that make up the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. Apart from Sambisa which is their main Camp and many more camps which are not yet to be touched by the Nigerian troops.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES UNDER  THE CONTROL OF BOKO HARAM
BORNO STATE     YOBE STATE     ADAMAWA STATE
Damboa     Buni Yadi     Madagali
Gwoza     Gujba     Gulak
Bama     Gulani     Shuwa
Marte     Kukuwa     Michika
Dikwa     Bularafa     Bazza
Gamboru Ngalla     Buni Gari    
Banki     Bara    
Pulka     Bumsa    
Ashgashiya     Taltaba    
Limankara     Njibulwa    
       
       



Meanwhile Maiduguri the State capital is sitting on a keg of gun powder, with the fall of Bama which is about 71 kilometers away and Kunduga, the next major town is Maiduguri. There are conflicting reports about Bama as to whether it is in the hands of the terrorists. But the number of civilians that have migrated into Maiduguri on foot from Bama, Kawuri and Kunduga is suggestive that the terrorists have an upper hand in the fight.

We are faced with a huge humanitarian crisis; people are sleeping on the streets in Maiduguri, despite the Seven or more camps within the city for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s). The State government is doing her bit to provide for them but the number is overwhelming and the resources are limited.

We are again witnessing a mass exodus of our brothers and sisters from the East, South and West. Many people are relocating to other parts of Nigeria; even the Soldiers are moving their families out of the Barracks to safer towns and cities in Nigeria.

This is our current situation in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. I may not know much about the politics and agenda of Boko Haram, those behind it, the sponsors and sympathizers. One thing I know for sure that they are human beings and not spirits, a local terrorist group with an International face and connection. Does the government have all the facts and intelligence about this group, YES but the government and our political leaders lack the WILL to act in the interests of her citizens perhaps because of the political ambitions. As a Nation we are almost loosing this battle because it is spinning out of control. The earlier we come together as Nigerians forgetting our religious, ethnic, regional, cultural and ideological differences to face this menace the better for us. We are sinking fast in the quick sand, let us swallow our empty pride as Nigerians and ask for International assistance in tackling this problem. After all, if we have been assisting other countries and nations restore peace and Order why do we feel that it is humiliating to ask for help now that our house is on fire.

This is our current situation my venerable brothers, we will ever remain grateful and thankful to all of you for your prayers, support and closeness in this moment of great trials and tribulations. I as the chief shepherd of the Diocese of Maiduguri the Priests and the lay faithful feel the warmth of your prayers and solidarity. We are committed to witness to the Gospel and pay the price when the time comes. And like St Paul, I can hear the echo of the voices of my people in Maiduguri Diocese saying:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,

or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As the Scriptures says:

For your sake we are being massacred all day long.

Treated as sheep to be slaughtered…………..

In all these we are conquerors by the power of Him who loves us.



May Our Blessed Mother who is the help of all Christians continue to intercede for us with her Son.

OLIVER DASHE DOEME

CATHOLIC BISHOP OF MAIDUGURI DIOCESE.    http://nigeriacamera.net/situation-report-and-update-of-the-activities-of-boko-haram-in-the-catholic-diocese-of-maiduguri-for-the-last-one-month/#more-28703