Adamawa residents flee

 
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.