Boko Haram captures Nigerian town

Takfiri Boko Haram militants have reportedly captured the second largest city in Nigeria’s northeast Adamawa State, amid fierce clashes between Nigerian troops and the militants.

Mubi, which is one of the commercial hubs of the state, fell into the hands of the Boko Haram group on Wednesday, when several people were killed and many others forced to flee their homes.

Residents, who fled to neighboring areas, said that militants first overran the northeastern town of Uba in Borno state before moving to try to seize Mubi, using firepower including rocket-propelled grenades.

“They (the militants) killed several people, especially around the market, where traders had gone for commercial activities,” said the Kukawa local government chairman Modu Musa.

“There is virtually not a single resident left in Mubi. Everybody has left to save their lives,” said local resident Habu Saidu.

Boko Haram Takfiri militants also burnt down Mubi police station as well as other command centers and freed prisoners after attacking a prison yard in the town.

The attack comes two days after suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed several people in the town of Kukawa, located some 180 kilometers (112 miles) from Borno’s capital, Maiduguri.
 
Analysts say the latest clashes are another blow to the fragile truce between the government and the Boko Haram militants.

Earlier this month, Abuja announced it had secured a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram that would facilitate the release of 219 schoolgirls abducted by the militants in mid-April.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly gun and bomb attacks in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its operations in 2009, which have left more than 10,000 people dead so far.

YH/NN/KA