Soldiers, residents flee as Boko Haram approaches Maiduguri

As the rampaging Boko Haram insurgents continue their deadly attacks in Northern Nigeria, towards Maiduguri, it appearred, yesterday night, as if the army has given up, with soldiers deserting and residents fleeing the towns and villages.

At night, a resident said he was awake and heard gun shots from a distance. “Nobody can sleep anymore,” explained a resident from Maiduguri, who wanted to remain anonymous.


Gwoza, Bama, Gulak, Michika, Duhu, Shuwa, Kirshinga captured by insurgents

The Islamists have been capturing new cities on an almost daily basis.

They arrive in hijacked army vehicles, fight off the Nigerian troops and terrorise the residents. “Boko Haram are committing all kinds of atrocities killing and raping.

At the same time they are taking young girls in batches and the city is littered with dead bodies,” said Senator Ahmed Zanna. Bama is just 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from Maiduguri and fell to the Islamists four days ago.

 Zanna recounts how the soldiers who were supposed to defend Bama, refused to advance any further, noting, “They were ill equipped and they just stayed in Kondudga.”

Sect gunning for Maiduguri
Maiduguri would be a major win for Boko Haram in their hope of creating an Islamist-ruled state. “Even a brief capture of Borno’s capital, will be a significant symbolic victory for Boko Haram,” said Ryan Cummings, a South African security expert, who is also a member of the Nigerian Security Networks.

Capturing Maiduguri would give Boko Haram a very strong boost, believes the Nigerian expert Nnamdi Obasi of the International Crisis Group, added. With Maiduguri, the Islamists would not only control a major city but also an international airport.

- NigeriaEye