By TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, MAIDUGURI
Residents of M a i d u g u r i were supposed to host those fleeing the centre of bloodbath in Bama, central part of Borno State following Monday’s daring attack on a military barrack in the town by Boko Haram fighters but many of them have decided to flee the city in fear.
Hundreds of residents of Maiduguri have been fleeing the city since Wednesday for fear of possible attack by militant sect, the second exodus of residents since 2009 when the insurgents first launched its offensive.
The insurgents had on Monday returned to the Bama armoured brigade (Kur barrack) in a daring move, targeting the military armoury. Security sources said soldiers at the barrack had made spirited attempts at repelling the attack even as the insurgents were unyielding in their mission, prompting the military to deploy its fighter jet to dislodge the insurgents and “shell the armoury so as not to give Boko Haram access to the area.”
Shooting between the military and Boko Haram has continued to rage for hours, forcing many residents to flee Bama to Maiduguri. “I spent the night in the bush with my family. I never believed I could make it to Maiduguri,” says Bukar Malum, a fleeing resident who arrived the premises of Government Secondary School, Mari near the University of Maiduguri gate.
But sooner had the over 26, 000 displaced residents of Bama arrived Maiduguri than rumour filtered in that Boko Haram was planning to attack the city. A military source said the move by the insurgents to invade the armoury was aimed at carting away arms to attack Maiduguri. Auwal Ibrahim, a Maiduguri resident, told Saturday Sun he decided to flee the city following apprehension of possible attack. “Most of the people in my area left today (Thursday) and I have to flee to my state too. I won’t wait to see whether any attack will take place or not,” he explained. Mr Olu Ajayi, a trader, said he has been under persistent pressure from his wife and family to flee Maiduguri. “My wife has been calling me that I should leave here but I have never budged until yesterday when I made up my mind to leave Maiduguri,” he said.
The insurgents are increasingly expanding its control in Borno. Apart from taking over Gwoza and Gamboru/Ngala, the sect moved to Bama and Banki on Monday while Gulani in neighbouring Yobe reportedly succumbed to the insurgents.
