insurgents escalated in Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and
Uba all in Adamawa State on Wednesday.
Mubi, the second largest town in the state and
host of two high institutions, was the worst hit.
A parent, Ahmad Sajoh, whose daughter is
studying at the Adamawa State University, said
that as of 2pm on Wednesday, the police barracks
in the Government Reservation Area was overrun
by the insurgents while the prison in the town
was blown open.
According to Sahara Reporters, the dreaded Boko
Haram insurgents took over the headquarters of
the 234 battalion in the town.
The situation is so bad that banks are on the run,
moving their cash to the state capital, Yola.
Sources say Boko Haram decided to launch
a massive attack on Uba in the Michika-
Madagali area of the state in response to
sustained aerial bombardment of their
hideouts by security forces...
According to Punch, casualty figures could not be
obtained as of 8pm but the development forced
the state government to impose 24-hour curfew
on the affected communities.
Residents said they saw a large number of
insurgents at Mararaba, about seven kilometres
from Mubi.
Sajoh told Punch that his daughter called to
inform him about the development in Mubi.
He said, "This morning, I got a call from my
daughter who is a 200-level student. She was
hysterical. I was in Abuja for a meeting, but her
information forced me to head back to Yola
immediately.
"I ordered her to leave the hostel and join her
cousins to escape the town. I called my father
who confirmed the story. By the time I arrived at
Yola airport, the town had fallen to the insurgents.
"My parents are trapped while my daughter and
her cousins are missing. We have lost contact for
six hours."
Sajoh, who was director of Press and Public
Affairs to former Governor Murtala Nyako, added:
"Mallam Iliyasu of the Bursary Department of the
state university, who is trapped in the town said
by 2pm, the Police Barracks in the GRA was
overrun by the insurgents, the prison was blown
open while fighting was going on at the army
barracks. The IDP camp at Lamorde area was
thrown into confusion.
"The new rulers of the town had issued a decree
banning entry and exit to the town. Students who
trooped to the motor park were stranded with
most taking refuge in any house that could
welcome them.
"The barracks are the least safe locations in the
town. So far, there are no reported cases of
killings or abductions. But fear and apprehension
have taken over."
There are fears of humanitarian crisis if the town
"fall" into the hands of the insurgents. A fleeing
resident, Joshua Gajere, said several people
might have been killed during the shootings that
lasted for almost two hours in Uba and other
villages.
He said, "We are in serious trouble as these boys
(Boko Haram) have taken over our towns,
splitting into groups and advancing towards
Mararaba, Mubi and Vintim, the home town of the
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.
They made the Nigerian troops to retreat to
Mubi".
Gajere added, "As I am talking to you now,
residents are scampering for safety. 'Mubi has
now become a ghost of itself as people in their
hundreds are fleeing for their lives."
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