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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