Fleeing from the military heat in Maiduguri, Borno State, Boko Haram may have relocated to neighbouring Mubi in Adamawa State. But soldiers pursued the Islamist sect members to the town on Monday.
In an encounter, 11 people were killed. They include seven militants, a police Inspector, a soldier and two other persons.
Boko Haram was said to have attacked a military patrol vehicle injuring some soldiers. As the gunfight lasted, 11 people lay dead, while seven sect members were arrested.
Sources said the gunfight started when a Joint Task Force (JTF) team from Maiduguri, trailed Boko Haram men to their hideouts in Mubi, resulting in the arrest, while seven were killed. The suspects were taken to Maiduguri for further investigation.
There was, however, a twist to the incident as residents, who refused to believe that the bodies were those of the sect members, trooped out in protest to the palace of the Emir, Alhaji Isah Ahmadu, at about 3p.m. They demanded that the soldiers should leave the town.
The sources also said that while some soldiers from the 23 Armoured Brigade from Yola were on patrol within the Mubi town, a vehicle belonging to the team was bombed by Boko Haram, killing an army officer, a police Inspector as well as a passers-by at about 7p.m. Several persons were injured in the bomb blast.
Some of the protesting youths alleged that the Emir was in support of the presence of the military in his domain. They destroyed parts of the palace and removed the Nigerian flag hoisted in the premises, while another group of protesters frowned against the attack on the palace.
The Brigade Commander, Brig- Gen. John Nworga, confirmed that the Army uncovered the Boko Haram hideouts and arrested the suspects for further investigation.
According to Gen. Nworga, two rifles and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the hideouts.
He also said that bombs were thrown at the military patrol vehicle by some persons suspected to be of Boko Haram in Mubi, who might have been aggrieved by the arrest of their colleagues by the soldiers.
Daily Sun learnt that following efforts by JTF in Maiduguri to arrest Boko Haram members, many of them fled to Mubi in view of its proximity to Maiduguri.
Daily Sun’s checks also revealed that following the discovery of the hideouts, some Boko Haram men had sold their houses while some had divorced their wives and had subsequently left Mubi town.
Meanwhile, the state police command, through its spokesperson, Altine Daniel, Assistant Superintendent, confirmed the incident and appealed to members of the public to be calm and abide by the curfew, saying the police were trying to bring the situation under control.
The boss of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), ASP Mohammed Ali, was killed by unknown gunmen in Yola metropolis last weekend.
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