By Deji Ibiyemi
Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa state and his cabinet are currently tensed up on how to repel the planned attack of Boko Haram insurgents on the state’s capital.
The state’s helmsman has called an emergency meeting with top security officials in the state to discuss the attacks on some villages by the insurgents last night.
The magazine also learned of ongoing secret meeting by all security chiefs with the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Babagana Mungonu and minister of Defense, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali.
Around 5:30 pm last night, the insurgents launched sporadic attacks on some villages, including Madagali, a small village close to the Sambisa Forest.
The attacks forced many residents of the areas to relocate to others places.
The rampaging insurgents have also attacked some villages in Yobe state, including Kanama town where residents are fleeing in their hundreds to other safe areas in the state.
According to facts gathered by the magazine, there is serious gun battle between the Nigerian Military and the insurgents.
It’s however unclear if the soldiers have been able to push back the terrorists from the areas they already occupied.
Sources who spoke with the magazine this morning said there’s serious gun duel going on in Madagali, a town in Adamawa and that the insurgents have scattered in the face of advancing Nigerian soldiers, backed by air power of the Nigerian air force.
Meanwhile, the military has assured the residents of the two to remain calm as everything is under control.
According to a statement released by a military spokesman, Njoka Irabor, the soldiers have been able to repel the insurgents’ attacks.
“Troops of 159 Battalion, Forward Operational Base (FOB), Sector 2, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, deployed at Kanama, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe state, have today’s evening thwarted Boko Haram terrorists attempted incursion into the border town of Kanama,” said Irabor, acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, headquarters Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole, in a statement.
Irabor disclosed that the insurgents came to Kanama at about 5:30pm and started shooting sporadically.
But were engaged by troops in gun battle, a situation which forced some of them to retreat with gunshot wounds.
“The resilient troops have embarked on hot pursuit of the fleeing surviving attackers towards the border with Niger Republic,” Irabor said.
In Adamawa state, Commissioner for Information, Ahmad Sajoh, said the military curtailed the insurgents from advancing to other villages.
“We got intelligence that Boko Haram men were sighted at Shuwa around Madagali and we alerted the military. Troops were mobilised there and already engaging the insurgents in collaboration with hunters,” Sajoh said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Adamawa State police command said the police have not officially been briefed of the situation.
