The Defense Headquarters in Abuja has ordered the
fleeing soldiers to go back and retake Mubi, the largest town in
Adamawa State from the terrorists group, Boko Haram.
Sahara Reporters said the order was given about 24 hours after
Nigerian soldiers from the 234 battalion fled Mubi, following Boko Haram
attacks on Wednesday, October 29, 2014. It was gathered on Thursday
that the sect members captured Mubi after they overwhelmed Nigerian
troops, who abandoned their barracks and weaponry and took to their
heels.
A military source in Abuja on Friday revealed that the embarrassing
retreat by the soldiers infuriated the Chief of Defense Staff, Alex
Badeh, whose hometown, Vimtim, is currently less than 15 miles from the
location of the terrorists.
However, this recent attack by the sect is the first in more than two
months since the insurgents have been able to send Nigerian soldiers
fleeing as troops have been recording series of decisive triumphs over
the terrorists, killing hundreds of them, capturing their weaponry and
vehicles, as well as repelling their attempts to capture more territory
in Adamawa and Borno States.
The source expressed shock that Boko Haram members were able to
penetrate Mubi with little or no resistance from the troops stationed in
the town.
Meanwhile, it was also reported that the sect bombed a prison
facility and a major police station in the town and went ahead to take
over the headquarters of the former Special Operations Battalion (SOB) now known as the 234 Battalion.
The military source further hinted that army authorities in Abuja are
nervous about the insurgents’ capture of the barracks because the
retreating soldiers left behind a huge cache of sophisticated weapons
kept at the armory in Mubi.
“With the weapons in their possession, these militants can pose a serious threat to many other parts of the state and beyond,” a military officer said.
Another military source within the Defense headquarters revealed that
about 300 soldiers who fled from the attack have now been ordered to
converge at Song, a town in Adamawa, under the command of the Brigadier
Agbarefe, the Brigade Commander from the 213 Brigade in Yola.
The troops which have two armored tanks and a few anti-personnel
carriers (APCs) are awaiting final orders to march into Mubi to confront
and dislodge the insurgents. It was gathered that there was no aerial
cover planned for the moment, but the troops are expected to proceed
irrespective of the fact.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Nigerian soldiers reportedly flee the town of Mubi in Adamawa State,
as members of the terrorists’ group, Boko Haram, make advances to take
over the town. In a reaction to the development, the Nigerian Defence
Headquarters revealed that it was going to investigate why troops fled the town when the militants attacked.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan recently increased the number of security personnel fighting the insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country in a bid to flush out the sect although the Federal Government and Boko Haram allegedly entered a ceasefire agreement which seems to have long been violated following recent attacks by the terrorists group.
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