Boko Haram Frees 192 In Yobe …Captures Monguno In Borno

Some Boko Haram members yesterday released 192 out of the 218 people abducted at Katarko town, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
A prominent politician, Alhaji Goni Katarko, who has reunited with his family members told our correspondent that the insurgents called them and asked them to pick the captives at Woron Yinwa village.
“They were so lucky to get lorry that conveyed them to Gazargana village were we picked them through the aid of military personnel. The military kept them in a camp, and pleaded with us to leave them for security reasons”, he said.
Goni said he has reunited with four out of his five family members abducted by the group. “I received four from my five family members abducted, the other one is among the 29 people that are yet to be released by the insurgents”, he said
One of the captives, Mallam Aysha, said that the insurgents gathered all of them and asked them to form two groups, saying those who want to stay with them should take one side and those not interested should go to the other.
“Many of us refused to accept their offer and the leader ordered that we should be taken out of the territory so that we can join the land of unbelievers out there. They took us to Woron Yinwa village before one herdsman led us to where we got a lorry driver that conveyed us to Gazargana village and we were finally picked by our relatives”, she said
She said that the insurgents divided them into camps after being kidnapped from their town.
According to her, “Some of us were taken to Ajigil, and some to Buni Yadi but they gathered all of us when they decided to release us”.
When newsmen visited the camp in Damaturu, the military in the area denied them access to the captives, saying that it was a directive from the authorities.
Many family members went to the camp to reunite with their released abductees but were also prevented access to them.
Meanwhile, the military appeared to have repelled yesterday morning’s assault on Maiduguri by Boko Haram fighters as the Defence Headquarters in an update said troops are in pursuit of ‘retreating’ terrorists.
It also announced a curfew on Maiduguri with immediate effect and until further notice.
“Coordinated Air and Land OPs being conducted now,” said an earlier tweet by Defence Headquarters.
As at the time of reporting, it appeared the military had succeeded in flushing the insurgents out of Maiduguri, the state capital, even as the curfew imposed on the city takes hold.
But the story is different for Monguno, as Boko Haram militants yesterday captured the town, including a military base, after a fierce battle with government troops, security sources said.
“Monguno has fallen, Monguno has fallen,” said a senior military officer, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Another security source confirmed that the Islamist militants had taken over the town, which lies about 125 kilometres (80 miles) north of the Borno State capital Maiduguri.
However, The Tide could not independently confirm the claim.
The two Borno towns were simultaneously attacked by Boko Haram fighters this morning, less than 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan held his re-election rally in Maiduguri.
Maiduguri had been calm for more than two weeks with no incident recorded, until yesterday when the terrorists struck again in Jintilo area of the town.
However, Amnesty International has said that failure to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians could lead to a disastrous humanitarian crisis, with reports of two large scale attacks in Maiduguri as well as the nearby Monguno.
“These ongoing attacks by Boko Haram are significant and grim news. We believe hundreds of thousands of civilians are now at grave risk,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa Director.
“People in and around Maiduguri need immediate protection. If the military doesn’t succeed in stopping Boko Haram’s advance they may be trapped with nowhere else to turn.”
“One resident told us: “If Maiduguri is attacked, we have nowhere else to go. Kano Road was the only way out,” said Netsanet Belay.
“All parties to the conflict urgently need to ensure that civilians who wish to evacuate Maiduguri are able to do so. In order to allow civilians to escape the fighting in Maiduguri, military operations should not be conducted along the main point of access: Kano Road.”
Amnesty International is also calling on all parties to the conflict to refrain from military operations in the vicinity of the hospitals in Maiduguri and any other medical facilities.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council is expected to discuss on 29 January a possible regional force against Boko Haram.

L-R: Paramount Ruler of Elekahia, Chief A. W. Akarolo JP, Deputy District Governor, Rtn Sam Mba, Rotary President, Rtn Chidi Ikeji and Women Leader, Mrs Amadi, during the commissioning of water and sanitation projects at Rumukalagbor Market, by the Rotary Club in Port Harcourt, recently Photo: Dele Prince Dele