BOKO HARAM RECAPTURES BORNO BORDER TOWN

 
Marte, the border town in the northern flank of Borno
state has again fallen to the Boko Haram sect, security
sources and government officials have confirmed.
Security sources said the terrorists, most of whom had
fled Sambisa forests and their other strongholds across
Borno State, have now regrouped in Marte, a town
112km north of Maiduguri, the state capital.
The deputy governor of Borno State, Zannah Mustapha,
confirmed that Marte was seized on Friday.
The news came as soldiers sustained a 24-hour curfew
imposed on Maiduguri, the state capital on Thursday
after Boko Haram terrorists attempted an invasion of the
city on Wednesday night.
Intelligence obtained after the Wednesday attack
suggested that at least 600 females had accompanied the
Boko Haram terrorists with a mission to carry out
multiple suicide bombing in the metropolis.
Three of the women had detonated their suicide belts at
the frontline on Wednesday, killing three members of
the civilian-JTF and injured several others.
Borno State deputy governor, Mr. Mustapha, on Friday
also confirmed to newsmen that 600 women and girls
have been kitted by Boko Haram terrorist as suicide
bombers with the aim of causing multiple explosions in
the town.
The deputy governor said residents must be patient with
the security agencies in spite the attendant hardships
caused by the dusk to dawn curfew.
“It is unfortunate that we are experiencing yet another
attack in Maiduguri at this time that we are thinking that
the insurgency should have subsided following the taking
over of Sambisa forest by the military,” said the deputy
governor.
“Our thinking was that every other place should have
been blocked so that the insurgency would be curtailed
to a restricted area. But that has not been the case,
because the insurgents have been fleeing to other
communities.
“Initially we were opposed to the suggestion made by the
military; but when we received a security report that about 600 women
have been kitted as suicide bombers and are to be sneaked into Maiduguri
during the attack, coupled with the gory pictures of some of the women
who detonated themselves during the attack, we had no option than to
okay the curfew.
The deputy governor had also confirmed the recapture of Marte by Boko
Haram terrorists.
“It is sad as we have been made to understand that Marte is today
completely fallen under the control of the insurgents, which to us is a very
huge set back”, he said.