THE Nigeria Army authorities say troops are still in control of Gudumbali town, headquarters of Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, and that no life was lost following a recent attack by Boko Haram insurgents between Friday night and Saturday morning.
Director of Army Public Relations, Texas Chukwu, made this known in a statement on Sunday, urging residents of Gudumbali town to remain calm and resilient but also maintain a high level of vigilance to prevent fleeing Boko Haram terrorists from infiltrating and hibernating in their communities.
“Combined troops of 82 Division Task Force Brigade and 158 Task Force Battalion conducting Counter Insurgency Operations in North Eastern Nigeria, on Friday 7 September 2018 had an encounter with Boko Haram insurgents in Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno state,” Chukwu stated.
“The encounter took place when the insurgents attacked the community, set some buildings ablaze and quickly withdrew from the community.
“However, no human casualty was recorded in the encounter. The troops have regrouped and normalcy has been restored. The troops have also been reinforced with additional troops to dominate the general area.”
On Saturday, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Usman Durkwa, confirmed to journalists that Gudumbali had come under attack.
“It is unfortunate to confirm to you that there was an attack by Boko Haram extremists on a military base and other communities of Gudumbali,” Daily Trust quoted Durkwa as saying.
The paper also reported that residents of the town, many of whom had just relocated to their homes from various Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, fled into the bush or to nearby villages.
“As I am speaking with you, insurgents are moving about freely at the headquarters of Guzamala LGA, they have reclaimed the town,” Daily Trust quoted a source who witnessed the attack as saying.
“The attacks started last night and the insurgents burnt down the houses recently reconstructed; I believe many people may have been killed. Hundreds of civilians are now in Gubio town, many are in the bushes.”
On Twitter, Ahmad Salkida, a journalist who vast knowledge of the Boko Haram insurgency, said that the Nigerian military has lost more personnel to the terrorists in 2018 than it had in any other year since the insurgency began.
No, they are not taking over new territories, they are still defending territories that, no doubt, have shrunk. What is true is, the armed forces has suffered more losses in 2018 than in any other year, in this crisis. This must be reversed. https://t.co/sF8VXPFg7a
— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) September 8, 2018
It wasn't a takeover, apparently the target was the military facility. The insurgents are busy piling up arms, by overrunning one military base, after another, for something "big" and what could that be? https://t.co/kOMKPGjWDg
— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) September 8, 2018
I doubt that, the military gains outweigh whatever losses they suffered in the past months. https://t.co/8MA4KBK3lJ
— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) September 8, 2018
Another journalist, Mngusuul Uji, who also covers the military and the insurgency, recalled how enthusiastic the people of Gudunbali were when they returned to their homes earlier in the year. She added that all the enthusiasm and high hopes might have just been dashed.
Barely two months ago, I met some amazing women in #Gudumbali. They were among those returning to the town, eager to start over. Fixing their homes, fetching water, farming, reuniting with friends. But with this Boko Haram attack, that glimmer of hope may be dashed, for now… pic.twitter.com/ddShM5i4ZA
— Kwasededoo (@Doseofice) September 8, 2018