Members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, the terrorist group have abducted the head of the civilian Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Bambula community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Mohammed Abba.
The insurgents attacked the community around 4 a.m on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, when most of the residents were asleep, a resident told told journalists.
Abba, the source said, had been the insurgents’ target since he refused to get compromised.
The head of the civilian JTF was abducted alongside many others who are yet to be identified.
“The sporadic gunshots woke us, and everybody started running to safety,” a resident, who spoke in confidence, said.
“The insurgents came in through Ajigum Talala, a part of the forest where ISWAP has a strong unit. They headed straight to Abba’s home and took him. They have been warning him before but Abba refused to cooperate with them.
“They abducted many others who could not run. They also burnt down some property, including a vehicle belonging to the community head.”
The attack comes a week after the insurgents attacked Korongilum in Chibok, where they torched many houses.
Army spokesperson Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa could not be reached for comments.
Journalists learned that soldiers have moved to the area.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, advised the military to change its tactics to defeat ISWAP terrorists in the Northeast.
The President spoke at the opening of the 10th National Security seminar organized by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, AANDEC, in Abuja.
The seminar, with the theme: Combating Insecurity in Nigeria, was in collaboration with the Office National Security Adviser, ONSA, and National Defence College, NDC.
President Buhari, who was represented by the minister of defence, Bashir Magashi, said new threats in the areas of insurgency and terrorism had emerged due to the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS.
He said security agencies had been given the renewed mandate to deal mercilessly with terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
“This is a major concern and threat to us. Their presence in the West African Sahel region poses a great danger not only to Nigeria but also to the entire region.
“Thus, we are exploring a higher level of collaboration among all nations and international organizations to effectively curtail the spread of terrorism and defeat insurgency and terrorism.”
Umar Fintiri, the Adamawa state governor on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, called sought the help of the Federal Government and the North East Development Commission, NEDC, for victims of last week’s invasion of Garkida town in Gombi Local Government Area of the state by Boko Haram terrorists.
Addressing the Chairman and management board of the NEDC at its headquarters in Abuja, the governor regretted that the destruction in the 4 towns was the worst he had seen in the history of Adamawa State.
“They burnt down the police station in the town, attacked three churches and destroyed their properties, including vocational training schools; burnt seven vehicles belonging to the churches attacked a shopping complex with over eight shops and destroyed them.
“The terrorists also looted a pharmaceutical shop inside the town and destroyed houses and properties belonging to individuals, including that of the chairman of the North East Development Commission.
“Sir, we are here to seek your help and your support because the burden is too much for Adamawa State to carry alone.
“We are trying to ensure that total peace return to Garkida and its environs and we have recruited 100 vigilantes to support the military. The military has also deployed more troops in the area.
“However, we are trying to avoid the challenge of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.
That is why we are seeking immediate and long-term interventions of the NEDC.”
