Resign Or Die, Boko Haram Warns Civil Servants, Kills 15

Resign Or Die, Boko Haram Warns Civil Servants, Kills 15

MEMBERS of the Boko Haram sect in Borno State Saturday issued death threats to residents of Bama and Gwoza towns in Borno State.

It followed the killing of 15 people and torching of several houses at the two border towns.

According to a fleeing resident, Ishaku Tada, the group said the letter would be followed by a bloodbath in the next seven days, if the warning contained is not heeded.

Written in Kanuri and Hausa languages, Tada said the sect warned all civil servants in Bama and Gwoza council areas to resign their jobs and burn their employment letters or risk death.

Bama and Gwoza communities have been cut off since the declaration of emergency rule. Men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and Military Special Operations Forces (MIOPF) have blocked access roads linking the towns with Maiduguri the state capital.

Tada said residents fleeing Bama were forced to take bush routes to Maiduguri, adding that they paid a fare of N7,000, as against the usual N300, before taxi drivers accepted to make the risky journey.

Some from the escaping communities, according to Tada, had to take refuge in caves.

“It cost me about N50, 000 to transport my family of six to Maiduguri. It was a harrowing experience for many, especially women and children. They (Boko Haram) warned government officials and civil servants in Bama to resign or face death in the next seven days. We are all scared. This could be more deadly, so we have run for our dear lives,” said Modu Fannami, another fleeing resident.

In Gwoza, insurgents who were forced by soldiers to flee their training camps and hideouts unleashed terror on their new host communities killing 15 people, including a 62-year-old cleric at Hwa’a, and the District Head of Kurana Bassa.

The insurgents were said to have taken over Pulka and Kirawa towns at the outskirt of Gwoza, forcing residents to flee into neighboring Cameroon.