Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri
Members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect on Sunday captured yet another town in Borno State after a two-day siege on some communities in the state.
The captured town, Abadam, was said to have been massively attacked in a raid that lasted several hours without a counter attack from security forces and, just like in previously captured towns, hoisted its black and white flag in three strategic locations and is moving to declare the town another Islamic caliphate.
Abadam is second largest town to Baga in Northern Borno and is 265 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital.
It would be recalled that the federal government announced that it had reached a a ceasefire agreement with the group last Friday but this will be the third attack staged by members of the group since that pact and the government is yet to react, even as concerned citizens have urged for caution in terms reached with the terrorists.
Some Borno towns and communities now under the control of the sect include Dikwa, Gwoza, Marte, Damboa, Banki, Bama, Wulgo, Kirenowa, including over a dozen border villages.
It was gathered that over 100 heavily armed suspected Boko Haram members in a convoy of about 50 Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles invaded Abadam with deadly weapons such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs on Saturday night before it was captured.
They had earlier on Friday evening, few hours after the much celebrated ceasefire, attacked a neighbouring town to Abadam, where they allegedly killed 10 persons.
A resident of Abadam who fled to Maiduguri told journalists on phone, : “Boko Haram gunmen entered Abadam town on Friday night; and shot at any resident sighted…I saw six people killed while we were fleeing the attacks. Among the people killed yesterday (Saturday) was my friend…my parents and other relations I believe are still in the bush; and I do not know their state of safety up to the time I am speaking to you now. I escaped by crossing River Kumadugu to Diffa, and from there I boarded a bus to Damasak, before arriving Maiduguri city.”