Boko Haram Overrun Mahia Town in Adamawa state

Boko Haram insurgents have overrun Maiha town, the headquarters of Mahia Local Government area of Adamawa state.

According to a security source, the insurgents were spotted hovering around the area about 5pm of Monday.

He added that nobody anticipated any attack as the insurgents had been coming to Maiha to preach and persuade the people to support their struggles.

He said the insurgents used the Potiskum attack that led to the death of about 47 school children to divert attention, so that while the authorities’ attention was on Yobe state, the insurgents struck Mahia, leading to the killing of several people who refused to flee after Mubi was attacked.

According to him , even before Mahia was overrun by the Boko Haram insurgents, it had been rendered a ghost of itself as commercial and social activities were paralyzed as a result of exodus of people from the town occasioned by attacks on Mubi  which is 20km away.

Fleeing residents of Mahia, who spoke to ThisDay on telephone said nobody anticipated that the insurgents would overrun the town, adding that insurgents had been convincing the people not to run away but promised to provide them with security and better life.

He said the killings and destruction orchestrated by the insurgents in Mahia violated their promise to the people by the insurgents to protect them.