BY YUNUSA BUNU, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 | 03:27 PM
Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP, are currently imposing their authority over some parts of southern Borno, especially along Damboa and Biu axis.
According to findings by YERWA EXPRESS NEWS, ISWAP, a faction of Boko Haram terrorists operating in the Lake Chad general area, are currently converging in southern Borno and Sambisa Area, imposing taxes on farmers and setting what seems to be a permanent checkpoints on the Maiduguri – Damboa - Biu Road.
Abubakar Ali, a citizen of Damboa, who had several encounters with the terrorists shared his experience with our reporter and how they undergo rigorous screening in the hands of ISWAP.
'They have three checkpoints. The first one is around Hawan Burun,' Ali said.
'They stopped us and asked from where to where? We told them that we are going to Maiduguri, from Damboa. They also asked if there was any government official, vigilante, soldiers or security men among us. And we answered no. We were all then asked to come down and trek to pass the check point while our car was asked to pick us up after the checkpoint.
'As we moved, we were screened one by one by some of their members. Their screening is based on your outfit and how good you are looking. If you look clean and smart, you are suspected to be a government official.
'When it was my turn, they said you have things to do with the government and I answered no. I am just a businessman. They then threatened to kill me if they find out from among us that I am lying. I agreed.
'We then moved to the second gate (checkpoint) around Sabon Gari, the same questions and threats were thrown at us. We answered that there is no force or any government official among us.
'One of them asked us all to get down. He entered the car with his gun around his neck to check the car and our bags. He then asked us in and we moved.'
The number of the terrorists, dressed mostly in military uniform, and sometimes in green kaftan, differ from time to time at each of the checkpoints, Ali said.
'At a checkpoint, sometimes you find thirty of them with three or four gun trucks and motorcycles and other times you find just two with motorcycles. Each of them including the small children are all in possession of AK 47 rifle,' Ali explained.
'They don't collect anything from you, but you will have to answer questions almost every time.'
Their third checkpoint is around the former military formation close to the mosque after leaving Sabon Gari.
From that point to Mararraba Aramma, you only find ISWAP members, a hunter from Damboa also said.
He explained that all the occupants of villages along that road are the terrorists.
'There are no innocent persons there; it is either their active member or informant.'
Another Civilian JTF who spoke on condition of anonymity said they control the general farming activities around the area.
'They are the ones that allocate lands and also impose taxes on everyone at the end of his farming period; this is a common knowledge to everyone in Damboa. You know ISWAP unlike the people of Shekau don't kill civilians. They only kill those of us who are security and government officials.'
He went further to say that they are the same terrorists that coordinate attacks across southern Borno, including the recent attack on Askira Uba, which left a brigadier general killed.
Within the last two years, ISWAP have been trying to establish and take over control of the Sambisa axis.
This effort has intensified early this year with the killing of Abubakar Shekau, the factional leader of Boko Haram, Jama'atul Ahlil Sunnah Lidda’wati Wal Jihad, controlling the Sambisa axis.
Last month, Gen. CG Musa, the theatre commander, Operation Hadin Kai disclosed that, after failing to take over control of the Shekau faction—who are turning themselves over to the government in droves —the ISWAP faction began to make moves against them.
One of security reporters, Yunusa Bunu, believes that the continued presence of the terrorists around the Damboa - Biu axis without action from the government will lead to a greater crisis in the future.
'On Monday, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno had met Gen. Leo Irabor, the chief of defence staff on the same issue. The continued presence of the ISWAP population operating freely; to a point of mounting checkpoints and controlling the economy of farming around the Damboa, Chibok, Biu area is dangerous.
'It will not only psychologically diminish the capacity of our military but also bring about loss of confidence in them.
'Also, young men will grow to see ISWAP in position of authority over their parents and source of livelihood (farming). This may be easily entice them into joining the sect as an acceptable thing. And God forbid, if that becomes the order of the day, the end of this insurgency will be far,' Yunusa said.
'The communities have identified and reported that those leaving in the axis are terrorists; no innocent person. What then is the military waiting for? To be attacked at their formation so that they actively repel or what?’ he wondered.
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18 June 2022
