FG orders military to flush out Boko Haram, as suicide bombers kill 23 in Yobe
ABUJA—Seven days after Boko Haram insurgents seized Mubi, the commercial nerve
centre and second largest town in Adamawa as well as Vimtim, home town of
Defence Chief, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Federal Government, yesterday,
gave a marching order to the military to flush out the terrorists from the
occupied areas immediately.
This happened on a day that more
than 23 people were killed after two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers burst
into the Shi’ite Muslim procession in Potiskum, Yobe State to commemorate the
new Islamic calendar. It was also a day gunmen attacked Kogi prison, setting
145 inmates free.
In Adamawa, to ensure that the
terrorists were flushed out from the occupied areas, more attack helicopter
gunships and surveillance aircraft were deployed, yesterday, while the new
General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General FO
Alli, whose Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes Adamawa State, was said to
have relocated to Yola.
PROCESSION—Members of Shi’ite sect
celebrating Muharram, the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed
(SAW) in Bauchi,yesterday.
It was gathered that the Chief of
Army Staff, Lt. Gen. KTJ Minimah tasked him to leave no stone unturned in
ensuring that Mubi and Vimtim were retaken in the shortest possible time.
The Federal Government was said to
have given the military the marching order following intelligence reports that
the new upsurge in Boko Haram attacks may have been influenced by political
motives to ensure that political activities do not take place in the North East
zone of the country.
Vanguard gathered that a time frame was given to the GOC and the
Commander of the Air Force Strike Group in Yola within which to push out the
terrorists. Air Force helicopter gunships (Mi35 and the Super Puma attack
helicopters) have commenced softening the grounds with light attacks
preparatory to a massive onslaught, it was gathered.
A senior officer who spoke to Vanguard
disclosed that by the directive the Government wanted to prove the insurgents
wrong that they can take over Mubi and nothing will happen. The thinking has
created uncertainty among residents of Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.
The Federal Government’s directive
it was further gathered, followed intelligence findings which showed that with
the successful derailment of the failed bid of the group to invade and take
over Maiduguri, using Konduga and Kawuri as launch pad, they have turned to
plan ‘B’ which is to push for Yola.
Suicide bombers kill 23 in Yobe
Meanwhile, on the suicide bombing in
Potiskum, the incident was said to have taken place at about 10 am on Old
Market Road. 48 people were injured in the first blast; before the other
suicide bomber was arrested yesterday by the police. Speaking on the incident
in Damaturu, the Police Commissioner; Danladi Markus in a telephone interview
said:
“There was a Monday morning blast in
Potiskum, that claimed the lives of more than a dozen people with the injuring
of others, but I cannot give you the exact figure as I am on my way to the
scene of the blast, 100 kilometres from the state capital. At this moment, I am
travelling to Postiskum to assess the extent of damage to both lives and
property.
“One of the suspects was arrested at
the blast scene, while the military and police rescue teams have evacuated many
people to Postiskum hospital for treatment.”
Hamza Isa, a resident of Potiskum
also said: “When the blast went off by 10am this morning, all of us ran in
different directions for safety, as the explosion rented the air with deafening
sounds before soldiers and policemen rushed to the blast scene near the Old
Market.
An injured shiite member sits on the
ground after a suicide blast in the northeast Nigerian town of Potiskum on
November 3, 2014. At least 15 people were killed and over 50 injured when a
suicide bomber detonated explosives at at a ceremony marking Ashura, the annual
commemoration of the killing of Husseyn, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed. Six
other people were killed when soldiers opend fire on the mourners fleeing the
scene, according to a shiite cleric and witnesses. AFP PHOTO
“The security operatives responded
with sporadic gunshots to show their readiness to stem any further attack on
the town and this caused panic among traders to flee into various directions,
leaving the streets and market empty for over three hours.”
Similarly, during last Saturday’s
nomination of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam at the August 27 Stadium, Damaturu, a
disruption threat letter was issued to operatives of security agencies in the
state, before yesterday’s blast in Potiskum that claimed lives of innocent
residents.
Meanwhile, Governor Gaidam has
condemned the attack, describing it as heinous, barbaric and unwarranted. A
statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego said:
“Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam
has been informed of an attack in Potiskum town on Monday (yesterday) during an
annual procession of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, marking Ashurah.
The governor notes that those behind the attack are criminals who want to fan
the embers of religious discord. He called on all the people of the state to
remain calm and vigilant.
“Governor Gaidam has prayed the
Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant eternal repose to those killed in the attack and
quick recovery to those who sustained injuries”.
The governor, according to the
statement, has also directed government hospitals in the area to provide
immediate free medical treatment to all victims of the attack.
Mubi attack: NEMA Records 10, 496
IDPs in five camps in Yola
Following the recent attacks on Mubi
town by Boko Haram insurgents, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
and Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ASEMA) have recorded 10,496
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in five camps situated in Yola south and
Fufore, while more people are still pouring into the state capital. Five women
were also safely delivered babies in two of the IDP camps.
Making the disclosure while leading
a special team to the state, the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of NEMA,
Mr. Eugene Ezeh said that the agency had delivered adequate relief materials to
all the established camps in the state and the new one would be provided with
tents.
Receiving the NEMA team, the Adamawa
State Governor, Bala James Ngilari, said that the state government had sent
vehicles for the evacuation of thousands of displaced persons who were
scattered in various locations around Mubi and those that ran into Cameroon to
established camps in Yola.
He said: “The tragedy has really
stressed us, we require your intervention for both short and long term”.
He noted that majority of the
displaced persons live with their relatives in the host communities, while
appealing to them to come forward and register so that they too could benefit
from whatever was provided.
Mustapha Lawan Nasidi, the leader of
the Shi’a Muslim community (C) stands over bodies of sect members at Madrasatul
Fudiyya seminary in the northeast Nigerian town of Potiskum on on November 23,
2014. AFP PHOTO
Also speaking at the occasion, the
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaja Zainab Maina said
President Goodluck Jonathan assigned her to assess the situation and assured
them of his continuous support up to the time when they would be going back to
their homes. She said the Federal Government has been doing everything possible
to see the end of the insurgency.
The camps are in Dawarei, Girei,
Malkwohi, Nyako Housing Estate, NYSC camp and COCIN Church. Relief items
provided at all the camps include drugs, rice, clothes, mattresses, maize,
buckets, mats, soaps, towels, cooking oil and sanitary items.
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