Boko Haram Seize Buni Yadi Town, Hoist Flags

The Boko Haram insurgents group has continued in their quest to take over some parts of the North-East.

The insurgents have seized Buni Yadi town, headquarters of Guja Local Government Area of Yobe State, and hoisted their flag at the palace of the district head.

This brings to three, the number of major towns the sect has seized in recent weeks. The sect few weeks ago took over taken Damboa town in Borno state. Although the town was later retaken by the Nigeria army, the insurgents group took over Gwoza town, hoisted their flag and appointed a new emir for the town. Efforts by troops to take the town back have failed so far, according to reports.

In Buni Yadi, residents who fled to the state capital Damaturu said yesterday the militants have set up base at the palace, and have been enforcing their own laws on people in the town.

It was gathered that the insurgents stormed the palace on July 30, but could not find the district head as he managed to scale the fence and flee to Damaturu where is still taking refuge.

But it was not clear if the attackers remained at the palace since that day or they left to return later.

“They have turned the district head’s palace into their base. Two flags with Arabic inscriptions were hoisted at the entrance, and armed militants stood guard, while many of them sleep inside,” a man who does not want to be named told Daily Trust.

A resident who fled following the Boko Haram takeover said militants have started enforcing their own laws for days now.

“They shot two people dead over cigarette smoking, and another man was beaten 80 lashes for living with a woman who was said not to be his wife,” he said.

Insurgents are moving freely on motorbikes, and manning security check points around the Buni Yadi, the man added.

Another resident said the insurgents came to his house to preach, and also asked why he still remained in the town.

He said, “Three insurgent groups came to interview me, asking almost similar questions, ‘why do you prepare to stay in Yadi? Are you with your family?’”

He said the following morning his family advised him to leave the town immediately while other family members would follow him later.

Buni Yadi had seen repeated insurgency raids, including the deadly attack on the Federal Government College in which dozens of students were killed in February.

An attack on the military and police bases there on May 27 left 18 soldiers and 15 policemen dead. Less than two weeks earlier, Boko Haram gunmen stormed the town and abducted a traditional ruler and a local chemist.