Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Even as the Nigerian Army recorded a major success with the recovery of Damboa, in Borno State which fell to insurgents last month, Boko Haram militants have taken over military camps in Buni Yadi, Buni Gari and Goniri, all in Gujba local government area of Yobe State.

“We are facing a very terrible situation. There is no single security in our area. The same in Buni Gari and Goniri. In fact the boys (Boko Haram) have taken over the military camps in the areas,” one resident said.

A top security source who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed that Nigerian troops are no longer in Buni Yadi, Buni Gari and Goniri and that the only ones in the area are those stationed in Katarko.

The recent bombing of the Katarko Bridge by the insurgents has halted vehicular and human movement between Buni Yadi, the main town in Gujba local government area and the Yobe state capital, Damaturu.

This has allowed members of the Boko Haram sect who now occupy locations that were previously manned by the military in the area to move about freely, brandishing guns and other weapons.

Residents of Gujba and Gulani have called on the Yobe State government to reconstruct the blow-off bridge.

Katarko is 22km from Damaturu and 34km from Buni Yadi.

It was gathered that officials of the state ministry of Works who were on a damage assessment exercise to the bridge narrowly escaped death in the hands of the insurgents who opened fire on them.