By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz/Yola
Over 3,000 residents of various communities in the Gwoza and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State have fled the area to the neigbhouring Adamawa state with many vowing never to return home. Their decision followed the continued attack and counter attack between soldiers and fleeing Boko Haram insurgents.
The residents who are currently taking refuge in neighbouring Madagali local government are area of Adamawa, fled their communities in Borno in the last one week. Already, Adamawa state government had constituted an adhoc committee chaired by the state commissioner of Border Integration, Alh. Hamza Bello to site camps for the displaced persons.
Bello confirmed that, “the state is now concerned about the influx of displaced persons that continued to troop in from Gwoza and Bama areas of Borno.
‘’Our committee will register them and provide IDP camps for their settlement. For now, we have at least over 3,000 displaced persons that have arrived,’’ the border commissioner said. He added that all attempts to convince the people to return to their homes had met a brickwall.
One of the refugees, Alhaji Abdu Madu , said that they had to flee because of the fear of death, vowing not to return to Borno because they believe that innocent persons are being killed either by the insurgents or security operatives, “we are at crossroads,’’ he said.
Madu also alleged that some people because of political and religious sentiments gave the names of those killed to soldiers as members of the Boko Haram sect.
Our correspondent who was at the border area, reports that already there is fear among the border communities following pockets of attacks by insurgents in some remotes villages despite the presence of soldiers patrolling.
In the meantime, the fleeing residents mainly women, children and the elderly — are currently sheltering north of the Adamawa border.
