Fleeing residents of Michika have spoken of how Boko Haram insurgents killed more than 120 people since they took hold of the town about one week ago.
The insurgents are said to be going round the town, selecting choice properties which they take over. Occupants of such properties who resist them are killed, residents said.
A resident Mr. Emmanuel Yame Kwache, who is in hiding said he saw more than 120 bodies in various parts of the town. He said the first person to be killed was Chief Fidelis Fashe, Hole Village head, who also holds the title of Sarkin Arewa.
The others are: Yeri Madugu, a Michika businessman, Mr. Alapurna, a retired police officer and Yakubu Madi, a brother to a multibillionaire China-based businessman, Ishaya Madi, whose large house hosts hundreds of ostriches when the insurgents tried to seize the property, the late Yakubu Madi resisted them and they shot him. He died instantly.
Also killed were Mr. Pius Teri Wabba, retired headmaster, Ayuba Ziraghi, former member of the House of Assembly representing Michika from 1979 to 1987, Mr. Peter Lelle, an uncle to General J.S. Kwaby, John Zira, a retired sergeant, Dauda Tumbarakoli and Reverend I. Fari.
There was also a retired soldier, Zira, Ahmadu Lowe, Alh. Naibi Bazza, the Deputy Chief Imam of Michika, who was killed along with his wife in front of the Michika central Mosque and Dauda Wamba, a successful businessman.
“When they arrived in Michika town, they were going from place to place, searching for decent houses to occupy and they saw so many houses which they promptly took over but people resisted them and many were killed,” Kwache said.
On the number of persons killed, he said: “About 120 persons have so far been killed, but the number may be more. As we went into hiding, reports were reaching us that even those who had earlier run to the surrounding mountains were crying of hunger and invasion of snakes.
He called on the Federal Government to urgently come to the aid of the people as women and children are sleeping in the bushes and mountain tops with no food to eat.
Many Mubi residents are said to have fled the town. They include the Emir, Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahmadu.
The Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Prof Liman H.Tukur, said: “I’m aware of where His Eminence the Emir of Mubi is. I know his location and he will soon be going back to Mubi to preside over the affairs of his Emirate.”
Tukur said the government had just held a security meeting with the military and soldiers had been deployed in all towns and villages seized by Boko Haram.
Fleeing residents said yesterday that Boko Haram fighters had seized the 320-kilometre arc running alongside northeast Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.
A long-silent spokesman of Boko Haram called reporters to say fighters had seized the village of Mararaban Mubi, just outside Mubi town in Adamawa state.
Mubi, which itself hosted displaced persons who fled fighting in the past year, is now deserted. Spokesman Abu Zinnira also denied military claims that soldiers had retaken Borno town Bama, 75 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
