Boko Haram: Fleeing soldiers resurface in Adamawa border town

By Ibrahim Abdul’ Aziz
Yola

Some Nigerian soldiers that  escaped following a fierce fighting with Boko Haram militants in areas of Borno and Adamawa states yesterday resurfaced in the commercial border town of Mubi in Adamawa state, making residents to panick.
Residents of Mubi who saw the soldiers said they returned in the wee hours, with most of them wearing torn uniforms and dull faces.
However, the residents said they could not ascertain whether they were among the 500 soldiers that fled to Cameroon or not, though most of the troops participated in Gwoza operation and were drawn from the special unit battalion based in Mubi.
A resident, Mr. Joseph Baba, said: “We saw some of them purchasing second-hand clothes at the Mubi main market and were in torn uniforms.
“Initially, we were afraid. People panicked when we sighted the troops. They arrived in the wee hours and people began to scamper for safety, because no one knew their mission. I even thought they were Boko Haram disguised in military uniforms, as they used to do.”
It could be recalled that, faced by the lack of arms, ammunition and other military hardware to battle the insurgents, at least 500 Nigerian soldiers were reported to have fled to neighbouring Cameroon.
This came barely a day after the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, declared the town of Gwoza in Borno state it captured few weeks ago and Islamic Caliphate.
In a video released on Sunday, which also showed scenes of Nigerian soldiers running for safety and arms recovered from them, the sect leader congratulated his fighters for seizing Gwoza earlier this month.
The Defence Headquarters on Monday said the presence of Nigerian soldiers in Cameroonian territory was a tactical maneuver from the sustained battle it had with the insurgents.
Its spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade, the troops did not desert to Cameroon, but only found themselves there.
In the meantime, residents of Madagali town said Boko Haram insurgents told them to defy the 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government.
Acting Governor Umar Fintiri on Sunday announced the curfew after Boko Haram fighters invaded the town, which is close to the boundary with Gwoza.
Residents said the insurgents, who are moving freely in the town, brandishing their guns, asked them to continue with their normal businesses, without fear of attack.
“They asked us to ignore the 24-hour curfew, promising not to attack us. They told us that they are not after us now; rather, they are pursuing troops being deployed,’’ said a resident of the town who pleaded for anonymity.
A source who spoke to reporters on the telephone said even those who were able to cross the mountain to Cameroon were feared to have been arrested by Cameroonian gendarmes.
“Many residents are now on the hilltops, while those that were able to cross to Cameroon are reported to have been arrested by Cameroun security operatives,” said the resident.