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Today Boko Haram terrorists are the new rulers of Northern Nigeria. They zoom into town at will without anyone accosting them. They have chased the Emirs, most of whom are either escaped from their palaces or hiding [imprisoned] in their palaces by heavily armed security officers. Political leaders of the north such as Muhammed Buhari have either gone into hiding or dumb out of fear of Boko Haram.
Yesterday a convoy of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and motorcycles with Boko Haram men caused panic in a town located in the central part of Borno.
According to Sun, gang of wild-looking men in some vehicles painted in military colour and motorcycles chanting Allah Akbar ! was sighted by residents of Dikwa, headquarters of Dikwa Local Government Area on Thursday, forcing many residents including the emir to flee into the bush. Dikwa town is about 80 kilometres from Maiduguri and is located along Gumboru/Ngala road, which has been taken over by the insurgents since August 24. Marte is on the Nigerian border around the Lake Chad.
There was commotion everywhere as people fled into the bush until the men stopped and told some people they didn’t come for them but for Nigerian troops.
The Emir of Dikwa, Alhaji Muhammad Masta El- Kanemi who fled the town amidst the confusion and panic of possible attack by the terrorists was sighted in Maiduguri, the state capital yesterday.
Residents said the insurgents subsequently headed to Marte, north of Borno that was once a Boko Haram stronghold, where they unleash violence on villagers.
Islamic Caliphate of Gwoza and Northern Nigeria
Residents of Gwoza that has been taken over by the Boko Haram jihadists have been living under terribly reign of terror.
Residents said the insurgents subsequently headed to Marte, north of Borno that was once a Boko Haram stronghold, where they unleash violence on villagers.
Islamic Caliphate of Gwoza and Northern Nigeria
Residents of Gwoza that has been taken over by the Boko Haram jihadists have been living under terribly reign of terror.
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| Boko Haram terrorits are the new rulers of Northern Nigeria |
Musa Yakubu’s biggest worry was the safety of his septuagenarian uncle who has been trapped in the hilly Gwoza town, southeast of Borno since Boko Haram sacked the community and reportedly declared it its territory.“I am very worried about the safety of my uncle. I’m not even sure he’s alive because the insurgents may have killed him since he couldn’t flee with other residents,” he told Saturday Sun in Maiduguri. Interestingly, Yakubu is not the only one that is disturbed about the condition of residents of Gwoza who are trapped in the town. Governor Kashim Shettima also said his biggest headache was the cruel fate that has befallen the residents.
“Our major concern now is about those who are still in Gwoza town, those who could not run away when the insurgents came. We don’t know what they are going through now. It is a difficult situation,” Shettima lamented in an emotional speech while addressing thousands of displaced Gwoza residents at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Madagali, Adamawa State.
A Caliphate, according to some Islamic scholars, is an area under the control of a Caliph, believably a successor of Prophet Mohammad as temporal and spiritual head of Islamic community. For Abubakar Shekau and his men of terror, the sleepy town of Gwoza is now a new Boko Haram republic since the attack on August 6. It appears unthinkable but Boko Haram has indeed declared the Gwoza town its new “Caliphate” nearly two weeks after the military pushed out the insurgents from Damboa where they reportedly hoisted their flags. A security source said Boko Haram left the town in ruins, describing the destruction at Damboa as massive and heartbroken. The source said the terrorists did not spare even streetlights. “Almost all the houses in the town were burnt; livestocks, public building, everything were destroyed. They finished Damboa”, the source disclosed.
Abubakar Shekau, leader of the sect in a video footage released last Sunday, claimed Allah has given them victory in Gwoza town. “Oh people, Allah has given us victory in the town of Gwoza. Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our members in Gwoza and made it part of our Islamic Caliphate,” he said in the video which has attracted outrage from some Islamic scholars who described the claim as unIslamic. Some residents of Maiduguri, who spoke to Saturday Sun, said the black sport utility vehicles backed by the Boko Haram leader in the video footage may have been taken from the Gwoza Emir’s palace.
Saturday Sun gathered that the insurgents invaded Gwoza in a fit of rage. For a week, the whereabouts of the Emir, Alhaji Mohammed Timta was unknown until recently when it became clear the traditional ruler survived the terrorists invasion of his palace. Emir Mohammed succeeded his father, Idrissa Timta who was shot dead in May by Boko Haram. Residents claimed they have reported the rumoured plan by the insurgents to raid Gwoza to the security forces but wondered why the terrorists were allowed to carry out the attack unhindered and thereafter took over the town. “We envisaged a serious attack on Gwoza by Boko Haram. We knew it was a matter of time because of the way they have overrun all the communities in the area. They killed our people and forced us to flee our homes,” said John Goma, a Gwoza resident taking refuge in Maiduguri.
A police source said most of the trapped residents are either old men, women, children or those who were sick at the time of the attack. They feared some of the trapped women and teenage girls in Boko Haram“new caliphate” may have been sexually abused by the insurgents or turned to their cooks. “They may be harassing the old ones who are too weak to flee to give them information about the military or youth volunteers,” says another resident who preferred anonymity.
Expanded territory
Apart from Gwoza town, which is the local government headquarters, Boko Haram has since November 2013, annexed most communities in the area. First, they engaged the military at Pulka, a small settlement that connects the area with Gwoza, and subsequently proceeded to Attagara, Aganjara, Agapalawa, Chinene, Chikede, Gavva, Amuda, Barawa and all the autonomous communities in the area. Hundreds of people were killed as about 3, 000 fled to different parts of the state as well as neighbouring Adamawa State. After the coordinated attacks on these communities, Gwoza was just a fait accompli for the Boko Haram men, a resident of Maiduguri who did not want his name mentioned in the print, said.
With the entire Gwoza local government fallen into Boko Haram’s hand, the insurgents pushed further eastward to Gamboru/Ngala, a commercially thriving town at the Cameroon border to expand its supposed caliphate last Sunday in what analysts described as expansionist move. The move led to fierce battle with the security forces, a development which “saw the Nigerian troops charging through the Cameroon borders in a tactical maneuver,” according to military authority.
From Bornu to Adamawa to Yobe all in Boko Haram's hands
“Our major concern now is about those who are still in Gwoza town, those who could not run away when the insurgents came. We don’t know what they are going through now. It is a difficult situation,” Shettima lamented in an emotional speech while addressing thousands of displaced Gwoza residents at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Madagali, Adamawa State.
A Caliphate, according to some Islamic scholars, is an area under the control of a Caliph, believably a successor of Prophet Mohammad as temporal and spiritual head of Islamic community. For Abubakar Shekau and his men of terror, the sleepy town of Gwoza is now a new Boko Haram republic since the attack on August 6. It appears unthinkable but Boko Haram has indeed declared the Gwoza town its new “Caliphate” nearly two weeks after the military pushed out the insurgents from Damboa where they reportedly hoisted their flags. A security source said Boko Haram left the town in ruins, describing the destruction at Damboa as massive and heartbroken. The source said the terrorists did not spare even streetlights. “Almost all the houses in the town were burnt; livestocks, public building, everything were destroyed. They finished Damboa”, the source disclosed.
Abubakar Shekau, leader of the sect in a video footage released last Sunday, claimed Allah has given them victory in Gwoza town. “Oh people, Allah has given us victory in the town of Gwoza. Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our members in Gwoza and made it part of our Islamic Caliphate,” he said in the video which has attracted outrage from some Islamic scholars who described the claim as unIslamic. Some residents of Maiduguri, who spoke to Saturday Sun, said the black sport utility vehicles backed by the Boko Haram leader in the video footage may have been taken from the Gwoza Emir’s palace.
Saturday Sun gathered that the insurgents invaded Gwoza in a fit of rage. For a week, the whereabouts of the Emir, Alhaji Mohammed Timta was unknown until recently when it became clear the traditional ruler survived the terrorists invasion of his palace. Emir Mohammed succeeded his father, Idrissa Timta who was shot dead in May by Boko Haram. Residents claimed they have reported the rumoured plan by the insurgents to raid Gwoza to the security forces but wondered why the terrorists were allowed to carry out the attack unhindered and thereafter took over the town. “We envisaged a serious attack on Gwoza by Boko Haram. We knew it was a matter of time because of the way they have overrun all the communities in the area. They killed our people and forced us to flee our homes,” said John Goma, a Gwoza resident taking refuge in Maiduguri.
A police source said most of the trapped residents are either old men, women, children or those who were sick at the time of the attack. They feared some of the trapped women and teenage girls in Boko Haram“new caliphate” may have been sexually abused by the insurgents or turned to their cooks. “They may be harassing the old ones who are too weak to flee to give them information about the military or youth volunteers,” says another resident who preferred anonymity.
Expanded territory
Apart from Gwoza town, which is the local government headquarters, Boko Haram has since November 2013, annexed most communities in the area. First, they engaged the military at Pulka, a small settlement that connects the area with Gwoza, and subsequently proceeded to Attagara, Aganjara, Agapalawa, Chinene, Chikede, Gavva, Amuda, Barawa and all the autonomous communities in the area. Hundreds of people were killed as about 3, 000 fled to different parts of the state as well as neighbouring Adamawa State. After the coordinated attacks on these communities, Gwoza was just a fait accompli for the Boko Haram men, a resident of Maiduguri who did not want his name mentioned in the print, said.
With the entire Gwoza local government fallen into Boko Haram’s hand, the insurgents pushed further eastward to Gamboru/Ngala, a commercially thriving town at the Cameroon border to expand its supposed caliphate last Sunday in what analysts described as expansionist move. The move led to fierce battle with the security forces, a development which “saw the Nigerian troops charging through the Cameroon borders in a tactical maneuver,” according to military authority.
From Bornu to Adamawa to Yobe all in Boko Haram's hands
Madagali in Adamawa State where some displaced Gwoza persons are camped by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has also been taken over by the insurgents. Madagali is the closest town to Gwoza.
As at press time, Gamboru is still under Boko Haram control as fleeing residents said the insurgents were moving freely. A security source hinted that the military was making necessary plan to dislodge the insurgents from the area.
The fate of Buni Yadi, headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area, east of Yobe and about 35 kilomtres to capital Damaturu, is also precarious, some Damaturu residents said. The Boko Haram fighters, who are said to be present in the town since late July, are not in a hurry to leave. However, Moh’d Adams, a Damaturu resident whose relations are still in the town, said the insurgents may have left the area. “A commercial driver in the area told me last week that a few residents have returned to Buni Yadi after Boko Haram left, though their houses and property have been destroyed,” he told Saturday Sun on phone, adding: “There are no military presence in the area up till now.”
Take over of churches: Catholic Church laments
The Maiduguri Diocese of the Catholic Church which covers Borno, Yobe and some parts of Adamawa states, said the church and its members have suffered greatly from incessant Boko Haram attacks. “It is true that terrorists don’t have friends but it is abundantly clear that Christians are worst hit by Boko Haraminsurgency,” Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr Gideon Obasogie said.
He disclosed that “the whole Madagali town and Catholic parish rectory have been occupied by the terrorists, with many structures and items vandalized.” He said some of the worshippers in the area fled while others were not so lucky.
Following last week’s attack on Madagali in Adamawa State, the Catholic Church has complained that Boko Haram insurgents have taken over the parish rectory of its church.
That includes several houses owned by Christians.
Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie, the Director, Catholic Social Communications in-charge of the Maiduguri Diocese, in an electronic press statement said the outlaws seems to be drawing a line of demarcation of whom to visit or not to visit with mayhem, adding that, "in recent times, it seems that Christians and Christian institutions have been at the receiving end of the attacks by the terrorists."
He wailed overthefact that “the whole town and the parish rectory have been occupied by the terrorists, so many structures and items have been vandalised. Dozens have been killed and a lot of church structures have been burnt down”.
The Revend further said that “Christians in the town are really in a terrible situation; a moment of great persecution. Christian men are caught and beheaded, while Christian women are forced to become Muslims and are taken as wives to the terrorists.
“The houses of Christians that have fled are now occupied by the terrorists; their cars are used by the terrorists. Some Muslims around identify Christian homes to be occupied and the Christians hiding were also exposed and they were killed.
“Strict Sharia Laws have been promulgated, as observed by a woman who luckily escaped the dead zone”.
He added: “The situation as it is has really and truly gone out of control. People are finding it really hard, citizens are being killed in their numbers.”
The clergyman expressed hope that the federal government would be more proactive in handling the dwindling state of insecurity that has overtaken the entire North-east.
Meanwhile, information at our disposal says that the Catholic Church has been compelled to close down all the parishes on the major road linking Maiduguri and Adamawa States because of the Boko Haram insurgents.
Why the military authority last week said it was declaring a total war on Boko Haram upon the receipt of technologically-driven weapons procured by the Federal Government, residents expressed the fear of worse attacks as the insurgents are increasingly expand their control around the eastern and western parts of Borno and neighbouring Yobe State.
As at press time, Gamboru is still under Boko Haram control as fleeing residents said the insurgents were moving freely. A security source hinted that the military was making necessary plan to dislodge the insurgents from the area.
The fate of Buni Yadi, headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area, east of Yobe and about 35 kilomtres to capital Damaturu, is also precarious, some Damaturu residents said. The Boko Haram fighters, who are said to be present in the town since late July, are not in a hurry to leave. However, Moh’d Adams, a Damaturu resident whose relations are still in the town, said the insurgents may have left the area. “A commercial driver in the area told me last week that a few residents have returned to Buni Yadi after Boko Haram left, though their houses and property have been destroyed,” he told Saturday Sun on phone, adding: “There are no military presence in the area up till now.”
Take over of churches: Catholic Church laments
The Maiduguri Diocese of the Catholic Church which covers Borno, Yobe and some parts of Adamawa states, said the church and its members have suffered greatly from incessant Boko Haram attacks. “It is true that terrorists don’t have friends but it is abundantly clear that Christians are worst hit by Boko Haraminsurgency,” Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr Gideon Obasogie said.
He disclosed that “the whole Madagali town and Catholic parish rectory have been occupied by the terrorists, with many structures and items vandalized.” He said some of the worshippers in the area fled while others were not so lucky.
Following last week’s attack on Madagali in Adamawa State, the Catholic Church has complained that Boko Haram insurgents have taken over the parish rectory of its church.
That includes several houses owned by Christians.
Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie, the Director, Catholic Social Communications in-charge of the Maiduguri Diocese, in an electronic press statement said the outlaws seems to be drawing a line of demarcation of whom to visit or not to visit with mayhem, adding that, "in recent times, it seems that Christians and Christian institutions have been at the receiving end of the attacks by the terrorists."
He wailed overthefact that “the whole town and the parish rectory have been occupied by the terrorists, so many structures and items have been vandalised. Dozens have been killed and a lot of church structures have been burnt down”.
The Revend further said that “Christians in the town are really in a terrible situation; a moment of great persecution. Christian men are caught and beheaded, while Christian women are forced to become Muslims and are taken as wives to the terrorists.
“The houses of Christians that have fled are now occupied by the terrorists; their cars are used by the terrorists. Some Muslims around identify Christian homes to be occupied and the Christians hiding were also exposed and they were killed.
“Strict Sharia Laws have been promulgated, as observed by a woman who luckily escaped the dead zone”.
He added: “The situation as it is has really and truly gone out of control. People are finding it really hard, citizens are being killed in their numbers.”
The clergyman expressed hope that the federal government would be more proactive in handling the dwindling state of insecurity that has overtaken the entire North-east.
Meanwhile, information at our disposal says that the Catholic Church has been compelled to close down all the parishes on the major road linking Maiduguri and Adamawa States because of the Boko Haram insurgents.
Why the military authority last week said it was declaring a total war on Boko Haram upon the receipt of technologically-driven weapons procured by the Federal Government, residents expressed the fear of worse attacks as the insurgents are increasingly expand their control around the eastern and western parts of Borno and neighbouring Yobe State.
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