"Can life be normal again in my town?
Will my people return to their homes again?
Will they ever have peace of minds again, even if at the end of the day they return to the once deserted land?.
These were questions allegedly asked by one Ahmed Musa Mohammed, a resident of Gwoza Local government area of Borno State who lost some of his immediate family members to the insurgents, even as he himself managed to escape unhurt.
Barely five days after the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, dislodged the Police Mobile Training Camp in Limankara village of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, the terrorist reportedly group stormed Adamawa border communities in Madagali and sacked the whole community before hoisting their black and white flags, after dislodging soldiers in the area.
Madagali town, which is about 20 kilometres from destroyed Gwoza town, is also located between Adamawa, Borno and Cameroun Republic, surrounded by Mandara Mountains and the home town of the Acting Governor, Ahmed Fintiri; former Deputy Governor, James Ngillari, as well as the former Special Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak.
Although, this was not the first time Madagali area was being attacked, the latest attack which occurred on Saturday, was reportedly the deadliest, with scores of residents feared killed, before the insurgents dislodged the community and established a settlement there.
When contacted on phone, the Chairman Madagali Local Government Council, James Abawu Watharda, told Sunday Independent, "the insurgents, are in large number, and using Rocket Propelled Launchers, Improvised Explosive Devices and petrol bombs, invaded our communities and already heading to Madagali and opened fire on innocent civilians before overpowering security operatives and vigilante groups.
Confirming the incident, Watharda reportedly added: "yes, some Boko Haram terrorists invaded most of our villages, shooting sporadically and killing many innocent people and destroyed a lot of houses before hoisting their flags in different locations.
"We, the people of Madagali, are worried with the spate of killings and destruction by terrorists without military or security agencies confronting them".
He added: "The terrorists are now having a field day, they stormed Gwoza. Just last Wednesday, the terrorists invaded the Police Mobile Training Camp in nearby Limankara village and took over the facilities on ground and today they are here in Madagali.
"For now, people are fleeing for their lives and no one can tell the exact casualty, because of the pandemonium that ensued," Watharda said.
Reports said that this development forced some Internally Displaced Persons, who ran away from the Gwoza attacks three weeks ago and resettled at neighboring Madagali town and residents to vacate their community following the sounds of explosions and gunshots that ensued from the terrorists.
One of the Gwoza refugees, who was in Gulak after fleeing, Dauda Musa said "the latest attack forced many people in Madagali, including the displaced persons to flee to neighbouring Mubi and Gombi towns of Adamawa for fear of possible attacks from the terrorists who now operate freely without confrontation from security operatives".
All efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Adamawa State,
Micheal Haa, proved abortive as his phone line was switched off as at the time of going to press, but sources at the police headquarters confirmed the report, saying plans were on the way to protect the people of the area.
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