Another strategic town in Adamawa South senatorial zone, Michika, the headquarters of Michika LGA, has been seized by Boko Haram insurgents as they continue to take over towns and villages in Adamawa State.
The seizure of Michika came less than 24 hours after Gulak, the hometown of the incumbent acting governor, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, was overrun by the insurgents.
Residents say that the militants have dislodged all the military checkpoints and chased out Nigerian troops after which they hoisted their flag in the township.
Some of the residents who are fleeing the town said efforts by the Nigerian Air Force to dislodge the insurgents proved futile as the jets deployed to fight them failed to attack. The fighter jets continued to hover around the town without attacking the insurgents, sources said.
Nigerian soldiers were said to have deployed more troops and reinforced the armoury at Marraba Mubi to prevent the insurgents from capturing Mubi, another strategic town located less than 30km from Michika.
The state government on Saturday confirmed that the insurgents had captured many towns in the southern zone of the state, leading to the death of many and destruction of property.
When contacted, the spokesman of the state government who hails from the area, Mr Solomon Kumanagar, confirmed that several people were feared killed as the terrorists took control of Gulak and other border towns in Madagali and Michika LGAs of the state.
Kumangar said that, already, Michika and other surrounding villages and towns had then been overrun by the insurgents, just as the effects of the insurgency like displacement of whole villages and towns had created multitudes of internally displaced persons (IDPs) whose management and welfare the government was left to bear.
…Moving towards Mubi
Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP learnt that the Boko Haram insurgents have moved up to Mubi and presently camping at Jigabu Village in the outskirt of the town.
Boko Haram: Jonathan heads for Chad, mobilises stronger alliance
After reportedly declaring a full-scale war against terrorist group Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan will today (Monday) travel to Ndjamena, the capital of Chad, where he is to hold talks with President Idriss Deby.
A statement by presidential spokesman Dr Reuben Abati noted that the president’s visit to that country is in continuation of the federal government’s efforts to forge a stronger alliance against terrorism and violent extremism with Nigeria’s neighbours.
Abati said the talks in Ndjamena between Jonathan and President Deby, who is also the current chairman of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, is sequel to their earlier discussions in Nairobi last week on the sidelines of the African Union Peace and Security Council Summit.
The presidential spokesman continued: “President Jonathan and his host will discuss the further actualization of agreements for greater cooperation against insurgents and terrorists reached by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon at a meeting in Paris earlier this year.
“Their talks are expected to lead to the strengthening of the Paris Accord on joint border patrols, intelligence sharing and the prevention of the illicit movement of terrorists, criminals, arms and ammunition across shared borders.”
Abati further noted in the statement made available to LEADERSHIP on Sunday that, before returning to Abuja tomorrow (Tuesday), President Jonathan will also be a special guest of honour at an international conference on information technology and communication holding in Ndjamena on the same day.
According to the statement, the president will be accompanied by the national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd); the minister of communication technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson; the minister of state for foreign affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed; and the director-general of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Professor Sheidu Mohammed.
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