Posted on Feb 27, 2020
Members of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group have abducted the Head of Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bambula community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Mohammed Abba.
The insurgents attacked the community around 4 a.m yesterday when most of the residents were asleep, a resident told TheCable.
Abba, the source said, had been the insurgents’ target since he refused to get compromised.
The head of the civilian JTF was abducted alongside many others who are yet to be identified.
“The sporadic gunshots woke us, and everybody started running to safety,” a resident, who spoke in confidence, said.
“The insurgents came in through Ajigum Talala, a part of the forest where ISWAP has a strong unit. They headed straight to Abba’s home and took him. They have been warning him before but Abba refused to cooperate with them.
“They abducted many others who could not run. They also burnt down some property, including a vehicle belonging to the community head.”
The attack comes a week after the insurgents attacked Korongilum in Chibok, where they torched many houses.
Army spokesperson Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa could not be reached for comments.
TheCable learnt that soldiers have moved to the area.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday advised the military to change its tactics to defeat ISWAP terrorists in the Northeast.
The President spoke at the opening of the 10th National Security seminar organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) in Abuja.
The seminar, with the theme: Combating Insecurity in Nigeria, was in collaboration with the Office National Security Adviser (ONSA) and National Defence College (NDC).
President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.), said new threats in the areas of insurgency and terrorism had emerged due to the defeat of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).