Up to 100,000 Nigerians flee across the border to Chad following surge in Boko Haram attacks

AS many as 100,000 Nigerians have fled across the border to Chad over the last few weeks due to the rise in the Boko Haram insurgency that has seen the terrorist attack military formations across Borno State killing dozens of soldiers.

On November 18, Boko Haram struck at a military outpost in Metele, catching soldiers of the 157 Task Force Battalion off-guard, killing scores and carting away large scores of ammunition and weapons. Different reports have put the number of military casualties at between 40 and 100 but earlier this month, 19 soldiers were buried in Maiduguri

According to the Nigerian military, 39 soldiers were killed and 43 others wounded in multiple attacks coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents on various military locations over the past few weeks. According to the chief of army staff General Tukur Buratai, insurgents attacked Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto, Gajiram and Metele military locations between November and December but were successfully repelled by the gallant troops.

With these growing attacks, local people have decided to flee their villages and cross the border into Chad, where the authorities can provide security. Mallam Shuibu Isa, one of the refugees, said that there was no sincerity in the Nigeria military’s claims regarding the fight against insurgents in the northeast.

He added: “We are tired of reporting issues to the military because they are not doing anything about it. Before the attack in Baga, we reported on the impending attacks but nothing was done even when we see the Boko Haram fighters gathering."

Already hundreds of residents from the northern part of Borno state have fled their homes and returned to Maiduguri  the state capital. Over 63,000 people from Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State has sought refuge in Niger Republic at the height of the crises.

With more people are leaving their villages on a daily basis, international non government organisations are also evacuating their staff and workers from the northern part of Borno State. However, General Buratai has assured that the Nigerian Army will support all bereaved families and continue to care for the wounded soldiers, who he wished a speedy recovery.