
Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, is now over-stretched by the
influx of internally displaced persons following the fall of Mubi and
several other towns into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents.
The displaced persons from the Northern Senatorial District were
being conveyed on trucks and buses provided by sympathizers after
trekking long distances from bushes near the Republic of Cameroun.
The huge traffic of displaced persons pouring into Yola was fueled by
rising fear that Boko Haram insurgents were about to launch more
vicious attacks.
The alleged threat has led to panic movement by residents of Hong,
Gombi and Maiha local government areas in their desperate move to avoid
the impending attacks by the dreaded Boko Haram sect to extend its
onslaught to neighboring towns after the fall of Mubi.
One of the victims, from Hong, who simply gave his name as Joesph
with his 15-member family said he left Hong town to escape the impending
onslaught on the town by the Boko Haram.
Joseph said he and others fled because the insurgents always carried
out their threats. He added that it was the same way they heard rumours
that the insurgents had promised to enter Mubi and many people were
killed in Mubi because they doubted the rumours but were caught
unprepared when the insurgents stormed the town.
“When I called and pleaded with them to leave Mubi because of the
impending threats going on that the insurgents had vowed to overrun the
town, they ignored me and were taken by surprise when the insurgents
stormed the area,” he said
Similarly, the people who fled from Mahia said some people in their
town had begun to evacuate members of their families for the fear of
further attacks because Boko Haram’s threat to extend its territorial
control to their towns and villages.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State government yesterday dispelled the
rumour making the rounds that the state capital was under attack by Boko
Haram as tension and apprehension envelope the state.
In a press release signed by the Press Secretary to Governor Bala
James Ngilari, Mr Maxwell Duku, debunked the rumour that the state was
under attack.
“The Government appeals to all citizens to remain calm and go about
their legitimate activities. The government and the security agencies
are doing everything possible to ensue peace and safety of all in the
state,” Duku said.
To address the worsening situation, the state government has
reviewed the curfew, from the former period of 11pm to 5:30am to present
period of 9pm to 5am daily.