Former President Obasanjos son shot by Boko Haram. Boko Haram insurgents yesterday shot and wounded a son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lt-Colonel Adeboye Obasanjo, when they attacked the platoon he was leading at Bazza, about 230km from Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Adeboye Obasanjo is an army engineer working with the 3rd Division in Jos, Plateau State, and was recently deployed to Adamawa State by the military authorities to help nip the activities of Boko Haram that has held parts of the state captive in the bud. Bazza is the hometown of the general officer commanding (GOC) the division where the incident took place. According to military sources, Obasanjo has been rushed to an undisclosed hospital. Another security source said he was shot on his two legs and might have been severely hurt. Reports indicated that about 27 soldiers in the platoon fighting the war against the insurgents were feared killed by the Boko Haram. Report also indicated that some Boko Haram insurgents were injured during the fierce gun duel that lasted hours between the two sides. Already, apprehension has enveloped Mubi and environs, leading the authorities of the Adamawa State University to shut down the institution indefinitely as thousands of residents of the town fled to different parts of Adamawa State, especially Yola, while those that have relatives in Cameroun Republic have also fled to the country to escape possible attack. Acting registrar of the Adamawa State University Malam Hassan Tanko, who announced the closure of the institution, cited security concerns behind the action, adding that the action was taken to secure lives of the students. Mubi, which is one of the biggest towns of Adamawa, is strategic as it serves as one of the business and educational hubs of the state. It harbors institutions like Adamawa State University and Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. The Cattle International Market is located in it, just as it plays host to a number of commercial banks. Before the latest exodus of people from Mubi, many displaced persons in Michika, Kirchinga and Madagali found refuge in the area, especially as it plays host to one of the special operations battalion which gave displaced people the hope that it is a safe haven. Reports indicated that residents are fleeing Mubi in their thousands to other parts of the state and Cameroun Republic as it became glaring that the insurgents intend to annex it. There was serious congestion at the Mubi motor park as the vehicles available could not accommodate the teeming fleeing residents of the area. Many people resorted to trekking for many Kilometres to avoid being caught up by the rampaging insurgents. Many, especially the old and children who could not walk long distances, were reportedly stranded. Similarly, Yola was agog with fleeing residents of Mubi, Madagali and other captured towns as human traffic at the various motor packs kept on filing. The Damare NYSC IDP camp was filling to the brim as IDPs kept trooping by the hour. The presence of several soldiers who trooped to the town in the evening has heightened tension in the state capital. Many soldiers who were seemingly demoralized by the impregnability of the Boko Haram were seen moving away from the troubled areas en route to Yola with many APCs and Tata vans; they carried along their belongings. The major road network linking the northern part of the state to the state capital has been witnessing unprecedented vehicular traffic as many people rushed into the state capital. The influx of people has caused apprehension: residents worry about the security implication of such mass movement just as they fear that the infrastructural facilities are being overstretched.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 06:44:56 +0000