The Nigerian military and a mobile police unit have started
advancing to the commercial border town of Mubi,
Adamawa state.
The town along with some other communities in Adamawa
and Borno states were taken over by Boko Haram in the
last few weeks.
Sources say that the police unit, which appeared battle
ready, was headed to the troubled area not only to flush
out the terrorists but also to liberate Vintim, the home
town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, one of the
communities currently under the control of Boko Haram.
One of the fleeing residents, Bitrus Gajere, said the mobile
police special anti-terrorist unit had already reached
Marraba Mubi Junction, about 18 kilometres from Mubi
town.
Other reports say the Nigerian military backing the police
unit and led by a colonel was at Pella Junction, 80
kilometres from Mubi.
Mr. Gajere expressed his happiness at the development.
“It may lead to the end of the trauma occasioned by the
dismal performance of Nigerian troops who always flee
whenever insurgents strike, leading to the fall of many
towns and villages,” he said.
Two residents of Marraba Mubi, Yohanna Gambo and
Sanda Zira, told reporters in Yola that they saw a
detachment of mobile police officers keeping vigil at the
junction leading to Mubi and Michika Local Governments.
“In fact, we are shocked and surprised to see a handful of
mobile police officer because since the fall of Mubi, we
have not seen a security man,” Mr. Gambo said.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the spokesperson of the
Adamawa Police Command, Othman Abubakar, a deputy
superintendent of police, were unsuccessful as calls to his
mobile phone were diverted.
Contrary to the claim by the Nigerian military that it was
on top of the situation in Mubi, reports say Boko Haram is
consolidating its position in the captured town and indeed
renamed it “Madinatul Islam” meaning the city of Islam.
Trapped residents said the insurgents were having a field
day; holding open court and preaching sessions as they
threaten to marry off spinsters to bachelors and open shops
that were closed by their owners.
Musa Aliyu, one of the trapped residents, said: “They asked
us to go about our normal business without fear of being
killed. They warned shop owners to come back and open
their shops; if not, the shops would be opened by force.
The insurgents are now holding public courts and
preaching at the emir’s palace and threatened to marry off
girls in for a dowry of N2,000 to N5,000. For now there is
calm in the town, though we could hear gunshots at the
outskirts.”

Na today? Dem go "flush" toilet join

Strange things are happening in Nigeria. Imagine our millitary struggling to defeat illtrained insurgence. Am not amused. No facet of this country that is not corrupt. We need to change our ideas if not this country will soon be history.