After engaging in fierce battle with the Nigerian army last week, terrorist group Boko Haram (pictured) prevailed in taking over Mubi of Adamawa State, and reportedly renaming it “Madinatul Islam” or city of Muslim and peace. In addition, the sect allegedly attempted to appeal to civilians to remain in their conquered towns and get back to business as usual, which is a distinct departure from their kill and destroy on-site strategy. according to This Day.
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While the Nigerian government claimed a few weeks ago that they had reached a truce with Boko Haram — which allegedly included the release of the missing schoolgirls of Chibok — a day later the terrorist sect seemed to clearly reject those claims with more abductions and raids throughout northeastern Nigeria.
Now, the BBC reports that Boko Haram recently “dismissed government claims to have agreed [to] a ceasefire.”
Instead, at press time, Boko Haram has shrewdly taken over a number of villages and towns at a dizzying pace, with nine territories in Borno, five in Adamawa, and two in Yobe.
With Mubi, Boko Haram’s largest possession yet, though, the militants are reportedly implementing a different tactic: Rather than killing all who are in their wake, leaving newly conquered areas desolate and ravaged, the sect allegedly told civilians that they will not be harmed if they abide by Islamic law and even encouraged them to resume their livelihoods.
This Day reports:
The insurgents, nonetheless, have continued to appeal to displaced residents of captured communities in Adamawa State to return to their homes as they continue to be assured of safety. Residents said the insurgents have informed them that they would be more secure in the new Islamic Caliphate than in the Nigerian state that is unable to provide them with security and the basic necessities of life.
One of the trapped residents, Bello, said the insurgents have been persuading them daily that the people should give them a chance to exert their authority on them promising a peaceful atmosphere.
This novel approach has also been reportedly implemented in Madagali, Mubi North, Mubi South, and Michika.
Uba resident Mallam Salisu Baba added, “The insurgents have assured people of unassailable freedom and have been telling shop owners to open their shops threatening that anyone who fails to open his or her shop will have the shops broken into.
“Whenever the insurgents want any commodity, they pay for it. This encouraged meat sellers, tea sellers and others to open for business.
“They provided security during the market day in Uba town last Thursday while promising to continue to give traders and residents who come to the area utmost security as long as they comply with Islamic tenets.
“They have opened one of the filling stations belonging to A.A Garba in Uba town, as motorists troops to buy petrol due to high demand,” Baba said.
Still, many, including soldiers, are said to have continued to flee from the hijacked towns because they do not trust the infamously violent terrorists.
Legal practitioner Sunday Joshua Wugira explained, “I was in Maiha a few hours ago, the pathetic plight of the people I saw was simply beyond imagination. We were in a commercial bus when some fleeing soldiers said we must adjust for them to get space in the bus to flee, which we objected. “It’s unfortunate that even soldiers join civilians to run away.”
Not surprisingly, many northern leaders are distressed about Boko Haram’s ever-growing caliphate, with Sokoto Sultan Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubaker III saying, “We are deeply worried over the insecurity in the country. We have seen that insurgents have taken many towns and villages in the North-east. Who knows the next town they will move to and where will they will stop?
“So we must come together irrespective of tribe and religion to confront the problems bedeviling our country.”
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