Emergency Rule: Soldiers block major roads as residents flee their towns

Posted by admin Adamawa, Armed Forces, Boko Haram, Borno, Latest Politics, State News, Top Stories, Yobe Saturday, May 18th, 2013

Residents on Friday said the special military force deployed to the
restive Nigeria northeast states of Yobe and Borno cordoned off
border roads linking the two states and Adamawa to prevent the
Boko Haram militants from fleeing to other neighboring states.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared state of
emergency in three north east states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno
following increasing waves of killing and attacks by suspected Boko
Haram sect.

The three states share borders locally and have international
borders with African countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Borno is the home base of the Boko Haram sect.

“The road linking Adamawa and Borno has been blocked. People
are not allow to move into the neighboring tatetes on the road
especially early in the morning and by afternoon,” Adamu Baba, a
cab drive said.

A Xinhua reporter in the restive state said the cordon measure was
to ensure the militant sect do not escape to the neighboring states
as the bombardment of their camp is going on.

Meanwhile, the advancing troops of Nigeria’s special task force have
destroyed some insurgent’ camps in the forests of northern and
central Borno.

Chris Olukolade, spokesperson for the defense headquarters said in
Abuja on Friday that heavy weapons, including anti-aircraft and
anti-tank guns, were destroyed in the process.

He said the special operations, which preceded troops movement,
resulted in the destruction of much of the insurgent’s weapons.
Logistics, he added, such as vehicles, containers, fuel dumps and
power generators were also destroyed.

According to him, the casualties inflicted on the insurgents in the
course of the assault will be verified during a mop up.

The defense headquarters in Abuja is quite satisfied with the
progress of the operation and the fighting spirit of troops, he added.
The spokesperson urged the task force to sustain the tempo.

Also, border posts have all been manned by security agents to
prevent the escape or infiltration of the insurgents.

The Nigerian leader also directed the Chief of Defense Staff, Ola
Ibrahim, to deploy more troops to the three states of Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe.

-Xinhuawp_posts