The Defense Headquarters in Abuja has ordered the fleeing soldiers to go back and retake Mubi, the largest town in Adamawa State from the terrorists group, Boko Haram.
Sahara Reporters said the order was given about 24 hours after Nigerian soldiers from the 234 battalion fled Mubi, following Boko Haram attacks on Wednesday, October 29, 2014. It was gathered on Thursday that the sect members captured Mubi after they overwhelmed Nigerian troops, who abandoned their barracks and weaponry and took to their heels.
A military source in Abuja on Friday revealed that the embarrassing retreat by the soldiers infuriated the Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Badeh, whose hometown, Vimtim, is currently less than 15 miles from the location of the terrorists.
However, this recent attack by the sect is the first in more than two months since the insurgents have been able to send Nigerian soldiers fleeing as troops have been recording series of decisive triumphs over the terrorists, killing hundreds of them, capturing their weaponry and vehicles, as well as repelling their attempts to capture more territory in Adamawa and Borno States.
The source expressed shock that Boko Haram members were able to penetrate Mubi with little or no resistance from the troops stationed in the town.
Meanwhile, it was also reported that the sect bombed a prison facility and a major police station in the town and went ahead to take over theheadquarters of the former Special Operations Battalion (SOB) now known as the 234 Battalion.
The military source further hinted that army authorities in Abuja are nervous about the insurgents’ capture of the barracks because the retreating soldiers left behind a huge cache of sophisticated weapons kept at the armory in Mubi.
“With the weapons in their possession, these militants can pose a serious threat to many other parts of the state and beyond,” a military officer said.
Another military source within the Defense headquarters revealed that about 300 soldiers who fled from the attack have now been ordered to converge at Song, a town in Adamawa, under the command of the Brigadier Agbarefe, the Brigade Commander from the 213 Brigade in Yola.
The troops which have two armored tanks and a few anti-personnel carriers (APCs) are awaiting final orders to march into Mubi to confront and dislodge the insurgents. It was gathered that there was no aerial cover planned for the moment, but the troops are expected to proceed irrespective of the fact.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Nigerian soldiers reportedly flee the town of Mubi in Adamawa State, as members of the terrorists’ group, Boko Haram, make advances to take over the town. In a reaction to the development, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters revealed that it was going to investigate why troops fled the town when the militants attacked.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan recentlyincreased the number of security personnel fighting the insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country in a bid to flush out the sect although the Federal Government and Boko Haram allegedly entered a ceasefire agreement which seems to have long been violated following recent attacks by the terrorists group.
credit ; naij.com