The fighting in the northern part of Adamawa between Nigerian troops and the Boko Haram insurgents took a turn for the worse yesterday following reports that Vintim, the home town of the Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh has been taken over by the insurgents.
The development is coming a day after the insurgents overrun Mubi which is at a close distance to Vintim.
Suspected terrorists, in a surprise attack on Wednesday afternoon were reported to have taken some of sections of the town including the 234 Battalion Army headquarters, until they were repelled by hurried reinforcement by the armed forces.
The attack and counter attack by the insurgents and the military was said to have continued with explosions and gunshots from helicopter gunships continued to rent the air, a resident who simply identified himself as Longman said.
Longman said “This morning there was still fighting going on in Vimtim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff and there was heavy exchange of fire and explosions there.
Residents confirmed that the village, a suburb of Mubi, finally fell to the insurgents on Thursday, adding that the rampaging terrorists had sacked the military and locals of the village.
A source, who confirmed the incident, said following the capture of Vimtim yesterday, the insurgents had a field day looting and burning properties in the village.
A source said the fighting between Nigerian troops and members of the Boko Haram sect in Mubi, is already in its second day with the Nigerian Air Force launching a ferocious aerial bombardment against the terrorists.
There was no official confirmation from the military on the situation in Mubi for the second day running. The Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh has remained silent even in the face of his hometown lost to the terrorist.
The CDS who was at the commissioning of the naval headquarters new office extension yesterday in Abuja, immediately scampered away when journalists confronted him.
No comments:
Post a Comment