The Nigerian Military on Thursday, November 6, 2014 has directed that troops sent to conduct a recapture of Adamawa’s second largest town, Mubi – which was overran by Boko Haram insurgents – be withdrawn to the Adamawa State capital, Yola.
An unnamed soldier in Yola was quoted as saying: “Some of our colleagues are still trapped in the bush as they’ve not been able to enter Mubi since they were sent to recapture the town already named “the city of Islam” by terrorist. We’ve also been ordered to turn off our mobile phones by our Oga’s”
A captain pleaded anonymity also said: “honestly we can’t enter Mubi, only God will help the civilian population currently being governed by the insurgents.”
Yet another officer who spoke via telephone with NewsWireNGR on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 said: “We’ve completely achieved no progress, we actually stopped in a nearby town of Maiha for the past days since we were sent to take over the captured town by insurgents”
“Our commanders are afraid to go and they are not willing to have us killed, the terrorists are better motivated and well armed to face us,” he added.
Reports from Yola say the insuurgents are now in possession of a large amount of artillery and weapons in Mubi, said to be left behind by fleeing soldiers, hence the apparent fear by the soldiers to go and recapture the town.
A resident said the soldiers who were sent to Mubi never got there as they all camped in neighbouring Gombi, Maiha and Hong towns.
Another resident said the capture of Mubi was carried out by only 64 Boko Haram sect members. The man, who spoke to BBc Hausa service said only seven terrorists attacked the military barracks.
So far, four local governments in Adamawa State – Michika, Madagali, Mubi North and Mubi South – have been taken over by Boko Haram insurgents, with former vice president Atiku Abubakar claiming that the sect members have overran sixteen local governments in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states – the last of which he hails from.
Attempts to contact Defence Headquarters’ Director of Information, Chris Olukolade proved abortive as he could not be reached for comments.
