Suspected Boko Haram member escapes arrest

A suspected Boko Haram member, who feigned madness, narrowly escaped arrest at Buni Yadi town in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe on Tuesday. The Commander, 27 Task Force Brigade, Damaturu, Colonel Usman Yusuf, gave the order to arrest the supposedly madman when he was sighted in one of the dilapidated buildings in the deserted town.

As troops advanced to carry out the order, the suspect, who wore a white garment with an unkempt hair and chanting some incantations, disappeared.


The incident occurred when the commander led a group of newsmen who were on a guided tour of towns recently liberated from Boko Haram insurgents, visited Buni Yadi to see things for themselves. Yusuf, however, assured that the troops would fish out the suspect soon.

The suspect was believed to be on a surveillance mission for the insurgents but pretended to be insane. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Gujba and Gulani Local Government areas in Yobe were captured by the insurgents in July 2014 and remained under their control for nine months.

There are 17 local governments in the state. But Gujba, including its headquarters, Buni Yadi, were liberated in the last three weeks, while operation to free Gulani was ongoing, according to Yusuf. He described Buni Yadi town as one of the strongholds of the insurgents in the state.

The terrorists blew up the only bridge linking the local government area with the state capital, Damaturu, and other towns shortly after they occupied the area. Before retreating from Buni Yadi, they also burnt down most of the houses, schools, the Local Government secretariat, motor parks, court, the Emir’s palace and market. Apart from troops on guard, the supposedly madman, a dog and a cat were the only living beings sighted in the deserted town.

The commander listed other towns recaptured by troops in the state to include: Fkayel, Gulani, tetteba, Bunsa, Bularafa, Kukuwa Geri and Buni Geri.
(NAN)