Nigeria's military has maintained that the country's sovereignty is intact, and dismissed Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau's declaration that Gwoza was being incorporated into his caliphate as "empty" rhetoric.

But the apparent ease with which Boko Haram can mount attacks, and the testimonies of displaced residents strongly suggests that Nigeria's military is increasingly unable to curb the insurgents' activities.

Last week the group seized the town of Gamboru Ngala on the border with Cameroon and nearby Madagali in the north of the neighbouring Adamawa state as part of its latest offensive.

The insurgents previously overran Buni Yadi in Yobe state, where they carried out at least three executions to enforce Islamic law, according to residents.

Nigerian soldiers have complained that they lack the weapons to fight the better-armed insurgents, who have used high-powered rocket-propelled grenades and even armoured personnel carriers in their deadly assaults.

Some troops stationed in Maiduguri last month refused to deploy to Gwoza in an apparent mutiny that was denied by the military high command.

relchange: the annoying thing is that you have people making excuses that some officers steal funds meant to equip the military,
and my questions is, are they GODS that cannot go to jail for theft of public funds?
unless someone is being disingenuous or outright irresponsible, no government official should repeat that line of excuses to us.
this nonsense is getting out of hand now.
equip the boys and let the excuses end!

Obiagelli:
If you talk too much, they will tag you boko haram sympathiser.