The Defence Headquarters, in Abuja on Sunday reportedly served the Special Operation Battalion (SOB) commander, Mubi, Lt. Col. Beyidi Marcus Martins, a query in what was described as, “negligence of duty and operational error”. This is after members of the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram, allegedly took over Gulak, one of the biggest towns in the troubled Adamawa State of North Eastern Nigeria. A soldier attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Adamawa State, told our correspondent in a telephone interview from Yola that the Battalion commander was queried because he was not readily available to pass order to soldiers, who would have repelled the insurgents. “The Commander went to Yola. I don’t know whether it was official or not but, he was not around when Boko Haram members launched their attack,” the source said.

He added, “even when his second in command at the Battalion called the commander’s mobile telephone lines, they were all switched off. Anyway, that could be due to network, but the 2i/c (second in command) was not able to reach him to take operational order and that was why we could not stand up against the criminals when they came knocking at Gulak.”

The source however said there was no casualty on the part of Nigerian Army or civilian populace at all, “as what we could only do was to protect civilians around us and members of our families. Asked if Boko Haram has taken over Gulak, he said no, if they have taken over, I would not be talking to you from here. There is nothing like that.”

Gulak is some 23 kilometers from Mubi, the second largest town in Adamawa State, after Yola the State capital.

Meanwhile, our Correspondent had earlier gathered from a senior Police Officer based in Gulak, that Boko Haram Islamic group have invaded the town and took it over. The insurgents had earlier taken over Gwoza, Bama, and some other parts of neighbouring Borno State. Similarly, the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Liman Tukur, had earlier confirmed that the insurgents had taken over Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of the State. Mr. Tukur stated this in a statement he signed and made available to journalists in Yola on Saturday. The statement said the insurgents had killed and displaced many people in the town during their attacks.

“It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had killed and displaced scores of people. “On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, his Excellency deeply sympathises with the people of Gulak and other surrounding villages and towns whose areas had been overran by insurgents.

“The concomitant effects of the insurgency like displacement of whole villages and towns create multitudes of internally displaced persons whose management and welfare, the government is left to bear,” the official said. Mr. Tukur, a professor, said the Adamawa Government would do as much as possible to assist the displaced persons.

He said the State Emergency Management Agency in conjunction with the National Emergency Agency, NEMA, had been directed to hasten assistance to the displaced persons.

Meanwhile, reports from Michika, headquarters of Michika Local Government, which borders Madagali Local Government Area, said residents of some villages were fleeing to Uba, Mubi and Yola towns for fear of possible attacks.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian military had on Friday appealed for cooperation and understanding from Nigerians as the insurgents activities worsened despite the state of emergency imposed on Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe since May last year.

“While welcoming all the concerns shown by Nigerians and a section of the international community following the increased menace and activities of terrorists, it is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed Forces is more than ever determined and committed to the defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, regardless of any odd”, the military spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, said in a statement.