Gwoza, Bama, Gulak, Michika, Duhu, Shuwa, Kirshinga have been, reportedly, captured by the Jihadists.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.”
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.
The morale of the government troops is very low and the terrorists are better equipped. Military officers said:
“We cannot do anything against Boko Haram, because most of the Boko Haram are using modern automatic weapons and the military is using AK47s.”
“We all live in fear,” explained a resident. “Because soldiers come into our houses, take off their uniforms and put on civilian clothes. So if the military is already fleeing the fight, we don’t stand a chance.”
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