Scores Killed as Boko Haram Takes Over Mubi in Adamawa

Dozens of people were yesterday by members of the Boko Haram in Mubi, Adamawa State after the the insurgents launched a major attack in Adamawa State, capturing the commercial town.

The insurgents reportedly stormed Mubi with no less than 14 trucks, with some conveying women and children, believed to be families of some fighters.

Hundreds of residents were killed; thousands fled. The sect’s fighters hoisted their flag at the palace of the Emir of Mubi. They burned down the police station and the Mubi Prison, which was built in 1920. All the inmates were set free.

Mubi is the hometown of the CDS. It also hosts many institutions of learning. Students fled to Yola, the state capital.

According to a source, “the insurgents invaded Mubi at about 2.30pm on Wednesday. They went on the rampage, attacking 234 Army Battalion, police stations and the prison in Mubi.

“At the prison, which has a capacity of about 450 inmates, they set all the prisoners free. We did not know whether or not they got hints that some of their members were being detained there.

“While the people of Mubi were looking forward to assistance from the troops, they were nowhere to be found. There was no resistance from the troops.

“We learnt some of the troops also fled the town for fear of reprisals. You know the troops  in September reclaimed Mubi from the insurgents and they killed many Boko Haram members.”

Yesterday’s attack on Mubi came less than two weeks after military authorities announced a ceasefire with Boko Haram.

The attack also came shortly after the Nigerian troops had planned to launch a major offensive to reclaim territories captured by the sect.

A source said troops had attempted to reclaim Bazza on Tuesday evening, having repaired a bridge that was reportedly damaged by the Air Force, in order to halt the advancing Boko Haram before the ceasefire.

“After troops had entered the town, the insurgents drove in five armoured-personnel carriers and repelled them and this (yesterday) morning, they launched a counter-attack,” a soldier said.

The insurgents then moved to Mubi where they sacked a military headquarters said to be strategic to the plan by the army to retake the lost territories, while the prison in the town was breached for inmates to escape.

“We saw the prisoners escaping after the prison gate was breached by the Boko Haram members. They told people not to panic that they were only after soldiers, not civilians. At present, no single soldier is inside Mubi,” a resident said.

Another source confirmed that when the insurgents arrived, they marched along major streets in the town on motorcycles, vans and armoured vehicles, waving at residents in a triumphant gesture, an aide worker said.

“They overran the army barracks, burnt a police station and prisoners have been set free. You can hear loud voices, it is the insurgents addressing the people on the streets but we are in panic because we don’t know what will happen next,” he said.

Another source in Mubi said, “Some soldiers lost their lives, so also the insurgents but eventually the insurgents overpowered the military and took over control of the town.”