Boko Haram takes over Yobe military camps

Some military camps in Buni Yadi, Buni Gari and Goniri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State have been allegedly occupied by Boko Haram insurgents, residents said.

The bombing of the Katarko Bridge by the insurgents has also temporarily cut-off both vehicular and human movement  between Buni Yadi and Damaturu, the state capital.

Investigation gathered by The Nation revelas that  daring travellers to the danger zone now have to break their journeys at Katarko and cross over River Katarko to join a waiting vehicle to Buni Yadi or Buni Gari and vice versa. continue...

Adamu Saleh(not real name) who rode on a bicycle to Damaturu told The Nation that Boko Haram insurgents now move freely in the area brandishing their guns and weapons.

He also informed that the insurgents are now occupying locations that were previously manned by military in the areas.

“I am just coming from Buni Yadi. I came with my bicycle all the way to this place. I did not use any bush path. I followed the main road.

“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 (yaara in Hausa referring to Boko Haram) taken over the military camps in the areas.

A top security source who craved anonymity said, “it is not a secret any longer that our forces are no longer in Buni Yadi, Buni Gari and Goniri. We only have our troops at Katarko.

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

Residents of Gujba and Gulani are calling on the Yobe State Government to as a matter of urgency reconstruct the  bridge blown off by the insurgents.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that officials of the state Ministry of Works who were on a damage assessment of the bridge narrowly escaped death in the hands of the insurgents who opened fire on them.