by James Sambo

Local Vigilantes in Adamawa State have reportedly chased out Boko Haram militants out of Mubi, nearly two weeks after the town was overrun by the insurgents.

The state governor, Governor Bala Ngilari, reportedly made the disclosure on Thursday, 13 November, revealing that the insurgents were driven out through a joint effort of civilian vigilantes and the military.

Phineas Elisha, the director, press, to Governor Ngilari, said that Mubi is now “quite different from what it used to be”.

“His Excellency, Governor Bala Ngilari, has confirmed that the combined efforts of the Civilian Vigilante and the Sarkin Bakan Gombi as well as the military has successfully chased away Boko Haram from Mubi town.”

He said: “Some of them (Boko Haram) ran away through Askira Uba and others through Mubi South and the situation in Mubi now is quite different from what it used to be.”

According to Premium Times, a military official disclosed that the operation was not as “conclusive as claimed”, however, the Adamawa state government insists that the terrorists have been defeated.

Chief of staff in Adamawa state governor’s office in Mubi, Chibado Bobi, confirmed that civilian vigilantes and hunters had recaptured the town.

“It is true Mubi has fallen back into the hands of Nigerian soldiers with the help of local vigilantes and hunters”.

“It is however too early for residents who fled to move back to Mubi because the security and vigilantes need to mop up all remnants of the group that may be lurking in nearby areas.”

A resident said about 200 vigilantes and hunters armed with den (home-made) guns, spears, clubs, bows and arrows, and machetes were involved in the recapture.

“I saw the Boko Haram fighters fleeing in droves in their vehicles when the hunters and vigilantes entered the town.”

“Their emir‎ (leader) was captured by the hunters and made to sit outside the military barracks that he and his men turned into their base. He had his hands tied from the back and we swarmed to have a look but we were later dispersed by the hunters.”

Mubi was captured by Boko Haram in a daytime attack on 30 October, shortly after attacking the military installation there, chasing soldiers and residents out of town, and killing many.

In what is gradually becoming a pattern, on Wednesday, 12 November, local hunters ambushed and killed 80 members of the insurgents and recovered Mahia Local Government of Adamawa state from the control of the insurgents.

Kolapo Olapoju