Boko Haram writes fleeing Borno residents, promises more attack

Fleeing Borno residents have been written by Islamist sect Boko Haram, promising more terror attacks. Survivors of menacing attacks in southern Borno who fled to northern Adamawa areas of Madagali, Michika and Lasa, have received letters of further attacks from insurgents.

Most of the fleeing resident who happen to be ethnic minority of Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno have sought refuge in communities in Adamawa and Taraba states, some have relocated to Cameroon villages and others have resorted to living in the mountains.

The fleeing residents were reported to have received the threat letter following extensive attacks on Pulka, in the Gwoza on Sunday.

Confirming the letters was Mark Lipdo, Executive Director of Stefanos Foundation, who said his foundation has been receiving distress calls from residents, who expressed helplessness, adding that, most of them lamented the inability of the military to come to their aid.

“On Sunday, we received reports that Boko Haram have also sent threat letters to these areas where the victims had been running to. They (the insurgents) asked all women and children to leave Gwoza town or face attack. Report says the militants arrived in the town today (Monday) with hijabs (Muslim veils) and food supplies to younger and average aged women.

“It is not clear what their next action may be; victims are now helpless as they have lost confidence on any government defence. Sources lamented that their people now adhere more to Boko Haram warnings than any government promises.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of residents who escaped a Boko Haram attack on Gwoza and fled to a nearby mountain said they were stranded and without any food.

“We are in distress. We need help,” said Liman Ngosha, a farmer from the town of Gwoza.

“We have been starving for the past four days. We are surviving now on wild fruits,” he told AFP by phone from the Mandara mountain.

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen attacked Gwoza on 6 August, some 135 kilometres (80 miles) from the state capital of Maiduguri.

The raid left dozens dead and sent others fleeing to the mountain near the Cameroonian border. Survivors said there were no soldiers to defend the town when the gunmen attacked before dawn.

“I cannot tell the exact number of people that were killed. Before I fled, over 100 corpses littered the streets of Gworza,” Ngosha said.

The palace of the town’s emir, the police headquarters and scores of other buildings were destroyed,” other residents said.

“Dozens of our people have been killed by the attackers. Some were slaughtered and many others shot with guns,” resident James Mshelia told AFP.

Residents said the whereabouts of the Gwoza emir, Mohammad Idrissa Timta, was unknown. Timta succeeded his father, Mustapha Idrissa Timta, who was killed by Boko Haram insurgents in May.

“There is no military presence in Gwoza now,” said Halima Jatau, one of the fleeing residents.