Catholic Church: 25 Towns Under Boko Haram Insurgents
As the Federal Government continues to wage war against terrorism in Nigeria, the Catholic church in Nigeria has announced that no fewer than 25 towns are under the outlawed Islamist group Boko Haram in northern Nigeria.
According to Thisday report, the Catholic Church made the declaration on Wednesday 17 September, 2014 , saying three North-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa are currently under the control of the terrorist group.
Among the towns that are said to be under the control of the insurgents are: Damboa, Buni Yadi, Madagali, Gwoza, Gujba, Gulak, Bama, Gulani, Shuwa, Marte, Kukawa, Michika, Dikwa, Bularafa, Bazza, Gamboru Ngalla and Buni Gari.
Others are Banki, Bara, Pulka, Bumsa, Ashgashiya, Taltaba, Limankara and Njibulwa.
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The Catholic Church informed that all the towns are being controlled conveniently by the Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe and parts of Adamawa that make up the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri.
A statement released by the church stated that: “Right now we have close to 20 priests taking refuge in Yola.
“There are conflicting reports about Bama as to whether it is in the hands of the terrorists. But the number of civilians that have migrated into Maiduguri on foot from Bama, Kawuri and Konduga is suggestive that the terrorists have an upper hand in the fight.
“We are faced with a huge humanitarian crisis; people are sleeping on the streets in Maiduguri, despite the seven or more camps within the city for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
"The state government is doing its bit to provide for them but the number is overwhelming and the resources are limited.”
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The church also warned that Maiduguri, the Borno State capital might be the next target of the Boko Haram sect following the fall of Bama which is about 71 kilometres away and Konduga, the next major town is Maiduguri.
Speaking on the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri over the last one month, the Archbishop of the Diocese, Oliver Dashe Doeme, said: “The last one month has seen the intensification and aggressive devastation of the Boko Haram activities in northern, central and southern parts of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri. The brutality and callousness with which people are killed can only be compared to that of the ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Many of our people are being forced out of their ancestral homes, villages and towns.
“Right now, thousands are living in caves on the mountains, some in the forest; the few who were able to escape are being absorbed by friends and relatives in Maiduguri, Mubi and Yola. Thousands have managed to escape into Cameroun and are living under very difficult conditions of lack of food, shelter and medication.”
He complained about the altitude of Nigerian security men, saying: “What is very discouraging in the whole scenario is the attitude of the military whom we mortgage and depend on for security.
"In the face of Boko Haram insurgents' attacks, they flee and ask civilians to do the same.
"There is no doubt that the morale of the security men and women is at its lowest ebb in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.”
The Archbishop also condemned the Federal Government for not doing enough to tackle insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria, adding that,"there is a total disconnection between what our so-called leaders in Abuja report in the media and the reality on ground. We wish they have the courage to fly into these areas and see things for themselves."
“Our people are dying every day and in most cases with no one to bury them decently, they are left to rot; their homes and properties looted; they have become slaves and prisoners in their fatherland, here is a government that cannot safe guard the lives of its citizens and indeed life has become so cheap that it can be wasted any moment. We used to think that salt is the cheapest commodity in the market, well, life is cheaper now especially in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.”
Source: Legit.ng
