The township of Hong and Gombi in Adamawa state were sacked and occupied by Boko Haram militants today as Nigerian troops protecting the townships fled due to superior firepower of the militants.
In Hong township, the militants took over the town and burnt down a police station and homes of notable indigenes.
The militants also arrived at Gombi and took over the township in retaliation against Nigerian troops that earlier drove them away from the town. The troops fled without resistance.
Several residents of the towns have arrived in Yola, the Adamawa state capital with gory tales of untold suffering, death and injury visited upon their communities by the rampaging militants. A Nigerian soldier who fled with others told SaharaReporters that the militants have regained control of Mubi and Maiha after several hunters liberated the townships. SaharaReporters could not independently verify his claims. The capture of Gombi and Hong has sent jitters down the spine of residents of Yola the state capital. The militants are only some 100 kilometers from the state capital.
In recent videos, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau had vowed to capture the state capitals of several northeastern states.