Sacking Of Military Base: Is Boko Haram Regaining Ground?

The incident last Saturday where Boko Haram insurgents reportedly sacked a military base in Budumbali, Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno State, has left many wondering what is happening to the war on terrorism in the country.

Gudumbali is the first major community to be captured by Boko Haram in almost two years under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was gathered that after a gun duel with Nigerian troops during the said attack, the insurgents took “full control” of the town while displacing thousands of residents who reportedly took to their heels into nearby bushes.

Many residents of the town are said to have returned to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, where they were previously taking refuge before the Federal Government encouraged them to return to the village assuring them that the insurgents had been degraded.

In view of the attack last weekend, there appears to be a resurgence of the Boko Haram insurgents to the community even though such may be limited to Borno state. Questions are now being asked as to why the resurgence is coming now that the 2019 general elections are fast approaching.

In what is now being compared to the scenario in the run up to the 2015 elections when the country witnessed increased attacks by the insurgents, fears are being raised that the country may witness similar attacks as another general elections are drawing near.

Residents of the town who spoke to newsmen after their relocation to Maiduguri, said they thought that the worst was over until last weekend’s invasion of their community.

The attack, many say, is discomforting in view of claims by the military that Boko Haram was no longer capable of taking any territory within Nigeria. Since Buhari came to power in 2015, several theater operations had been launched in the North East with the latest being the Operation LAST HOLD in Northern Borno in May.

With President Buhari’s campaign promise to defeat Boko Haram if elected into office in 2015, his re-election to office in 2019 may be threatened by the insurgents’ efforts to attack and recapture some of the towns that had previously been captured by the military.

There were reports that at least eleven civilians died during the attack on Budumbali that lasted several hours.

Narrating his ordeal after the insurgents invaded the town, 33-year-old Bintu Bukar had said: “I cannot describe the type of shock I went through.”

“I was waiting to hear them break into our home and kill us. They were chanting Alhahu Akhbar amidst sporadic shootings from a very close range. We all got down on the floor for fear of stray bullets. They continued shooting untill around 3 a.m.

“We trekked more than 20 kilometres where some vehicle conveying other IDPs assisted us to Gajiram. It was from there that we came here in Maiduguri,” she said, adding that “I am yet to hear from my husband up till now. I am still in shock. I never want to go back to Budumbali. We are not safe.”

In their reaction to last week’s attack, the military had claimed that,“The encounter took place when the insurgents attacked the community, set some buildings ablaze and quickly withdrew from the community. However, no human casualty was recorded in the encounter.”

The Director of Army Public Relations, Texas Chukwu, had said troops of the 82 Division Task Force Brigade and 158 Task Force Battalion successfully repelled the insurgents during the attack.

Despite claims of repelling the attack, it is obvious that the insurgents are gradually returning to base, and Nigerians are wondering why it is so despite reported efforts of the military.