| Culled From: | <Linda Ikeji> |
|---|
Reuters reports that Boko Haram took over Bara town without firing a shot or killing anyone. A source said the militants entered the town without any resistance from any security forces who are not stationed anywhere in the small town, and went about trying to convince people to join their cause.
Boko Haram's attacks appear to have shifted focus in recent weeks away from creating mayhem to taking ground and holding it, a strategy analysts say could be inspired by the Islamic State's example of declaring a caliphate in Syria and Iraq.
Last month, the insurgents captured the remote farming town of Gwoza, along the Cameroon border, during heavy fighting. Their leader Abubakar Shekau declared in a video that the town was now "Muslim territory".
Boko Haram militants have driven more than many people from Bama amid fierce fighting.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Borno state said on Wednesday that 26, 391 displaced had so far been registered from the town. "The number is growing by the hour," its spokesman Abdulkadir Ibrahim said.
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"It won't hurt you," he said with a sarcastic edge echoing in his voice. He left the house after telling the interpreter to guide the new corners and tell them what to do. The interpreter told them his name was Ibrahim from Garin-Alewa. He had been educated in the school and was now able to read, write and speak the Whiteman's language. "Now, you must open your heart to accept the education the Whiteman teaches. It is quite different from our Arabic schools. Here you must do everything the white man does," Ibrahim said. Just then a bell rang. Ibrahim looked at his wristwatch. It was seven p.m. "It's time for supper. We will all go to the dining room to have food," Ibrahim said. Garba realized he had been famished. He followed Ibrahim with the other boys to the dining room. There were many boys there. Garba recognized some of the boys from Dogongari but he did not go to meet them. He was wondering if this was what the Whiteman's education was all about. "Garba, son of Dandogo, your father finally let one of his sons to come here," one boy named Sule said behind him. Garba turned and saw Sule. He and Sule used to be friends before Sule was taken away to the school and when he had returned to the village, he had become somewhat pompous, not associating with the village boys whom he now called 'villagers'. "Hello Sule," Garba said. He had long accepted that his friendship with Sule had long packed following Sule's change of attitude. "How are you? I never thought you'll ever come here. I am very happy for you because this is the place where your mind gets open," Sule said. Garba did not understand, however, he smiled lazily at Sule. Sule sat beside him on the same table. "There's 'Sawa, the son of Maitabba, and there's Abu son of Iliya. I think you also remember Tanko, son of Danlcura," Sule said, pointing at boys from Dogongari. Garba knew them all. He nodded. "And there's Yakubu. He's quite close to the Whiteman Mr. Jacobs. The white man says Yakubu is his name sake, that Yakubu is the same name with Jacob," Sule said. "He lives in the master's quarters with nim." When the meal was served, it was rice and fried fish. The aroma was too much that Garba almost began to eat had Sule not stopped him. "You must wait for the prayers before you eat. And you don't eat with your fingers. This is not your bush village. Use the cutleries," he said. Garba looked at the cutleries. He had never used cutleries to eat before. He only used wooden spoon to drink fura da nunu and his hands for every other food he ate. "Bless this food, gracious Lord, for Christ's sake," Mr. Jacobs said. "Amen,"' children chorused.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW....PLEASE VISIT OUR BLOG AGAIN TOMORROW FOR A CONTINUATION OF THIS AMAZING STORY!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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