BOUYED by their recent gains and capture of communities in Borno State, Boko Haram gunmen, operating in over three dozen Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles at dawn on Thursday, invaded Dikwa town in the state, forcing many residents, including the Shehu of Dikwa, Muhammad Mast II Ibn Alamin Elkanemi, to flee to Maiduguri and other border villages with Cameroun.Dikwa is a border council headquarters and 85 kilometres Northeast of Maiduguri, the state capital. Although there were no reported loss of lives and property, Modu Bukar, who fled to Maiduguri yesterday morning, said some residents were scattered in different directions because of the insurgents.
“Some of us had to flee last night along with members of our families to safer places, like Maiduguri. These gunmen are never to be trusted because they will say one thing today and the following day, they change and commence slitting people’s throats for not joining to fight their own cause.
“Their capture of towns and villages in Borno continued yesterday with the invasion of our town, the council headquarters of Dikwa, a border town with Cameroun,” Bukar said.
He recounted how Dikwa was invaded: “There were sounds of explosions and gunfire heralding their arrival in this town and some of us immediately fled for fear of the unknown. The Shehu of Dikwa also fled his palace along with his family members and courtiers.”
He also claimed that the insurgents took over the town and hoisted their flag with little resistance from security forces.
Military sources yesterday in Maiduguri also confirmed the incident, stating that there were attempts by suspected insurgents to attack one of the border towns in northern Borno last night.
“As at the time of receiving this report from Dikwa last night, there were no casualties on both civilians and property. The insurgents are on rampage of claiming some towns and villages in Borno State,” said the military source.
The invasion of Dikwa brings to 16 towns and villages already captured, including Gwoza, Marte, Ashgashiya, Wulgo, Banki andGambouru in central and southern parts of Borno State.
The Nigerian military had earlier dismissed Boko Haram’s declaration of an “Islamic caliphate” as “empty,” insisting that no part of Nigeria would be conceded to the insurgents.
Also yesterday, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets bombed selected targets in Gwoza areas in an attempt to reclaim the capturedcouncil headquarters from the insurgents.