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Friday, May 9, 2014

Boko Haram Blows up Bridge Linking Nigeria and Cameroon

Reports from say a small bridge linking Nigeria to Cameroon has been blown apart by #BokoHaram insurgents, resulting in death and pandemonium. The bombing took place on the outskirts of Gamboru Ngala, where a Boko Haram attack took place on Monday, an attack which claimed the lives of more than 300 village residents.
It is alleged that at least thirty people have met with their deaths in the bombing incident today which happened late in the afternoon, sources say. The bridge connects the immigration checkpoints of both Cameroon and Nigeria.
This bombing takes place on the same day as the mass burial of the over 300 residents in Gamboru Ngala. The number 300 is about 10% of the population in the town.
Sahara reporters’ sources say of the 336 people who died, 315 were buried in a mass ceremony which was held solemnly by civic and religious leaders.
Even though Boko Haram hasn’t claimed responsibility for blowing up the bridge, there is deep suspicion that Boko Haram terrorists have blown up a bridge linking Nigeria and Cameroon in a desperate bid to deter soldiers pursuing them after it appears that they have fled across the border with some of the abducted schoolgirls.
 On April 14, Boko Haram kidnapped 234 pupils from Government Secondary School Chibok, in Borno State and this month alone, have set off two devastating bombs in the Federal Capital Territory satellite town Nyanya. Earlier this week, the extremist sect also attacked the village of Warabe, also in Borno State, killing about 300 people and abducting a further 11 girls.
 Given the recent horror of Boko Haram's activities, there has been an international outrage, with the international community united in its condemnation of the group. Britain, the US, France and China have all offered assistance in helping to track down the missing girls and have promised logistical support to eliminate the terrorist sect.
 With US Marines and British soldiers already in Nigeria assisting the Nigerian Army, the noose appears to be tightening around Boko Haram and some of its fighters have subsequently fled across the border to Cameroon. Yesterday, its fighters destroyed the link bridge between Gamboru-Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State and Cameroon in a bid to ward off its pursuers.
 Major General Chris Olukolade,  military defence headquarters spokesman said: “The affected bridge is a vital one connecting Nigeria with Cameroon. The fleeing sect members destroyed the bridge in anger to frustrate troops from pursuing them.
 “The way they destroyed the bridge, only light vehicles can manage to pass. The damage will not allow armoured vehicles to pass through and their target is to halt the movement of troops across the border."
 Gamboru has been an area where Boko Haram has been very actively and in January 2013 it took control of more than eight local government  areas in northern Borno State bordering Cameroon. These included Gamboru- Ngala, Marte, Mobbar, Gubio, Guzamala, Abadam, Kukawa, and  Kala-Balge but Nigerian troops succeeded in regaining the control of the area.
 Major General Olukolade added that the latest development has confirmed intelligence reports that the insurgents have a well-established base in Cameroon. Gamboru is a strategic town vital to the counter-attacks against the insurgents and there were concerns last night that Boko Haram might be planning a fresh attempt to retake northern Borno State.


BOKO Haram terrorists have blown up a bridge linking Nigeria and Cameroon in a desperate bid to deter soldiers pursuing them after it appears that they have fled across the border with some of the abducted schoolgirls.

On April 14, Boko Haram kidnapped 234 pupils from Government Secondary School Chibok, in Borno State and this month alone, have set off two devastating bombs in the Federal Capital Territory satellite town Nyanya. Earlier this week, the extremist sect also attacked the village of Warabe, also in Borno State, killing about 300 people and abducting a further 11 girls.

Given the recent horror of Boko Haram's activities, there has been an international outrage, with the international community united in its condemnation of the group. Britain, the US, France and China have all offered assistance in helping to track down the missing girls and have promised logistical support to eliminate the terrorist sect.

With US Marines and British soldiers already in Nigeria assisting the Nigerian Army, the noose appears to be tightening around Boko Haram and some of its fighters have subsequently fled across the border to Cameroon. Yesterday, its fighters destroyed the link bridge between Gamboru-Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State and Cameroon in a bid to ward off its pursuers.

Major General Chris Olukolade,  military defence headquarters spokesman said: “The affected bridge is a vital one connecting Nigeria with Cameroon. The fleeing sect members destroyed the bridge in anger to frustrate troops from pursuing them.

“The way they destroyed the bridge, only light vehicles can manage to pass. The damage will not allow armoured vehicles to pass through and their target is to halt the movement of troops across the border."

Gamboru has been an area where Boko Haram has been very actively and in January 2013 it took control of more than eight local government  areas in northern Borno State bordering Cameroon. These included Gamboru- Ngala, Marte, Mobbar, Gubio, Guzamala, Abadam, Kukawa, and  Kala-Balge but Nigerian troops succeeded in regaining the control of the area.

Major General Olukolade added that the latest development has confirmed intelligence reports that the insurgents have a well-established base in Cameroon. Gamboru is a strategic town vital to the counter-attacks against the insurgents and there were concerns last night that Boko Haram might be planning a fresh attempt to retake northern Borno State.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4371-boko-haram-blow-up-bridge-linking-nigeria-and-cameroon-to-deter-military-pursuers#sthash.uHiwlnSu.BZRa14vn.dpuf
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

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