More than 2,000 Nigerians living in border villages
in Borno State have reportedly fled as a result of the
ongoing military operations targeted at routing
insurgents from the area under the emergency rule.
The fleeing villagers were said to have headed to the
neighbouring Niger Republic.
“Most of the residents of border villages of Borno
have fled to Niger. About 2,000 people from Abadan,
Malam Fatori and other villages are now refugees in
Difa, Niger Republic,” a top security officer told one
of our correspondents on Sunday.
The source said that the Joint Military Task Force
was on the trail of members of the Boko Haram sect,
who were dislodged from the Sambisa Game Reserve
and other camps on Thursday in Borno State.
It was learnt that residents of Maiduguri and other
communities far from the border, who did not want
to be caught in the cross-fire had also fled to some
neighbouring states, including Kano and Bauchi.
The Director of Defence Information, Defence
Headquarters, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, could not
confirm whether the Nigerian villagers had fled to
Niger Republic.
“I will have to find out,” he said.
As the time of sending this report, he had yet to
comment on the development.
Also, Nigerian Immigration Public Relations Officer,
Ekpedeme King, promised to find out if any Nigerian
villagers fled to Niger Republic.
However, he did not respond to subsequent calls and
a text message sent to his phone.
Olukolade, in a statement on Sunday, said, “A total of
20 terrorists were apprehended as they fled.
Altogether, three soldiers died, while seven are
wounded and are being treated in military medical
facility, one soldier is missing.”
According to Olukolade, patrols are also ongoing to
secure towns and villages from infiltration by the
terrorists.
He added that the curfews imposed on identified
flashpoints were being enforced.
The military spokesman said that dislodged terrorists
had been in disarray with a large number of them
heading for various borders.
He said, “Their bases are being deserted but they are
making efforts to evacuate most of the large stock of
logistics, including scores of vehicles in their
holdings.
“In the course of special forces and operations, a
number of encounters have ensued since yesterday
(Saturday).”
The military had on Saturday said 10 Boko Haram
members were killed, while 65 others were arrested
during encounters with the terrorists on Friday.
On Sunday, Olukolade said, “The required
reinforcement and logistics have been delivered to
forces in fronts where they have been engaging a
large number of heavily armed terrorists since
yesterday.
“Defence Headquarters is quite satisfied with the
high standard of compliance with operational order
and strict observance of the rules of engagement so
far.
“The forces have been directed to maintain the
robustness of the patrols and enforcement of curfews
where emplaced and ensure that civilians are kept
out of harms as much as possible.”
A 24-hour curfew had on Saturday been imposed in
parts of the city of Maiduguri.
In Adamawa State, the curfew imposed in parts of
the state has been biting harder on residents,
especially those living in the capital city, Yola, and
the border towns of Mubi and Maiha.
A resident of Jimeta-Yola, Ms. Rifkatu Iliya, who
spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone,
said, “The curfew is still on and we are learning to live
with it, those of us who go to work leave earlier than
usual so that we are not caught up.
“For those who are trading, it is more difficult
because their trading hours have been reduced to
between three to five hours a day.
“I will be lying if I say we are not living in fear, we
have heard of the atrocities of Boko Haram in some
parts of the state and we have seen an increase in the
number of security forces.”
But a security source in Yola, who asked not to be
named because she was not authorised to speak to
the media on the issue, said the military crackdown,
had been concentrated in Borno.
The source said, “The military operations are
targeted largely at terrorist training camps and
strongholds in Borno.
“However, we in Adamawa are also on the alert
because we are aware that the insurgents who are
under intense pressure in Borno may want to seek a
safe haven here.
“We are under instructions not to allow this to
happen.
“The pains of the checkpoints and the curfew are
temporary; residents will have to bear with us.”
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