by Rachel Ogbu

Nigerian soldiers are believed to have recaptured three of the local government areas where Boko Haram had been in control in northern Borno including a training camp known as Sambisa on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

A soldier speaking to Punch reporters said, “We have succeeded in taking over Sambisa Games Reserve, which the sect had been using as its camp. Scores of people found in the camp were arrested.

“We will interrogate them and those who are not members of the sect will be set free. The operation is being carried out in such a way that there is no harassment. The innocent should not be afraid.”

According to reports, the names of the recaptured areas could not be confirmed out of  the ones Boko Haram run. The areas where the insurgents were said to have been in total control before the military operation launched on Thursday were Marte, Magumeri, Mobbar, Gubio, Guzamala, Abadamin, Kukawa, Kaga, Nganzai and Monguno. Troops on Thursday were said to have shut down almost half of the state as they attacked suspected Boko Haram enclaves.

A resident said people were living in fear siting the number of roadblocks had increased and that “farmers are no longer going to the farm, only a few traders are venturing out to the market.” “Shop owners who sell provisions are finding it difficult to replenish their stock,” he reportedly said.

In a statement released yesterday, Public Relations Officer of 23rd Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yola, Lt. Ja’afaru Nuhu said a curfew begin in Adamawa  state between 6 pm and 6 am until further notice.

“Sequel to the Presidential declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, a 6pm to 6am curfew has been imposed on Adamawa State.

“All law-abiding citizens are advised to abide by the curfew,” the statement said.

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The Punch reports:

Director of Defence Information, Brig.- Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents that more troops had been deployed in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

He declined to comment on the number of troops that were billed to participate in the major military operations planned to flush out the insurgents from the area. Olukolade said that it was not strategic to disclose the number of soldiers or security personnel that would be used for the operation.

“All I can say is that more soldiers have been deployed today; that I can confirm to you. On the issue of the numbers that are being quoted, they are not from the DHQ. We are not quoting any number. “The operation is continuing satisfactorily.

Details will be made available to the public at the appropriate time.” There are reports that business and other activities are going on as usual in Yola in spite of the heavy deployment of soldiers and policemen in strategic places.

The BBC reports on Thursday indicated that mobile phone networks were not functioning in many parts of North-East states, though the reporter said it was not clear if the situation was related to the current military offensive. The insurgents had previously attacked mobile phone masts in the area in an effort to disrupt communications.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, and the Director of Press, Mallam Isa Gusau, could not be reached as of the time of this report.