All 130 people killed are Muslims – Izige survivors

Series of military check points has turned a three-hour journey from Yola, the capital of Adamawa State to Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area to a six-hour of suffering. The closure of Wuro-Gayandi bridge after a military tank carrier crashed into it, is another hurdle that could discourage a traveler to call off […]

Series of military check points has turned a three-hour journey from Yola, the capital of Adamawa State to Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area to a six-hour of suffering. The closure of Wuro-Gayandi bridge after a military tank carrier crashed into it, is another hurdle that could discourage a traveler to call off his trip unless he is prepared to get dusty and mangled in the improvised bush-path across a harsh terrain.
But the tearful moment lay ahead at Duhu ward where trucks are rushing out of a narrow, deserted road that branched all the way to Izige, an agricultural village where suspected Boko Haram fighters massacred over 130 defenseless men few days ago.
The rickety trucks hurriedly convey remnants of domestic wares, animals and foodstuff left behind by the displaced persons who are now taking refuge in Gulak, Duhu, Shuwarin, Bakin Dutse, Madagali town in Madagali Local Government Area and in places in Michika, Mubi North and Mubi South local areas. As the panic spiraled to other communities on both sides  of Borno-Adamawa border, more are trooping inwards to Madagali under a difficult situation – transportation from Izge and surrounding villages has skyrocketed fivefold from N200 to N1,000 in five days, because only the bravest commercial drivers could dare reach the area. There are reports that the attackers frequently loot stores and barns in the deserted area.
“Even at N100,000, I will not go to Izige or  any part of Goza, the place is never safe. Travelers are stopped and slaughtered almost on daily basis. The Boko Haram looted over 600 bags of grains from Izige on Sunday and can revisit the place any moment,” a commercial driver said.
More disturbing is the fact that no single Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp has yet been established; the displaced are still patching with relatives and sympathisers in congested houses, uncompleted buildings and some open spaces with little access to food and medication while their children no longer attend schools.
These people have unanimously rejected the offer of N200 million resettlement plan announced to them by Borno State Governor, Shettima when he visited Gulak last Tuesday in a heavily emotional atmosphere. The governor stirred tears in the crowd of his displaced subjects-in-diaspora when he wept, yet the refugees maintained a position: That they will not return to Borno unless Sambisa forest is conquered by the military and terrorists are defeated.  
Several victims appreciated the concern of their up-and-doing governor, but chose to stay in Adamawa despite the hardship they face as squatters. Shettima instantly donated N2 million cash to them as first aid assistance.
Gambo Isa, a farmer who fled to Gulak with his seven family members, called on Federal and state governments to offer substantial assistance to residents of Madagali who are weighed down. He said “government should assist the people of Madagali with food and money, because of the burden they shoulder. Almost every family is hosting distressed people that are larger than his family, we know they are being burdened and soon they may be overstretched. We left everything behind in Izge, much of which has been looted by insurgents and bandits. In my own case, I took the risk of going back to pick my farm produce but the journey is extremely risky. Our people left behind a fortune. The mangoes are ripe, but no one to pluck, I quickly picked some of my property and left, I have just returned.”
He denied an international media report (VOA) that 80 christians were killed in the village, saying “we do not know a single Christian who lost his life in the attack, all the dead bodies we saw were of Muslims, we were surprised, but everybody knows the report is false.”
During Shettima’s visit, no Adamawa State government  official was seen as he was received by the Secretary of Madagali Local Government, Thomas Glanda on behalf of the chairman who was in Abuja. The face-off between the state and local government has slowed down progress in handling the humanitarian issue.
Rising from a security meeting on Thursday, the chairman of Madagali Local Government Council, Maina Ularamu told Weekly Trust that the local government has resolved to convert three public buildings into camps, using money contributed by individuals.  He said the buildings need basic repairs and the locally generated revenue from the market has dropped from N60,000 average to N30,000 since the attack.
Ularamu decried the inability of his council “to assist victims of insurgency due to refusal by the Nyako government to respect the court judgment which sacked their stooge and declared me as the duly elected chairman.  Since I assumed office, the state government ordered all the directors and cashiers to desert me. Every month, government officials meet in Yola to share the monthly allocation of Madagali among themselves with the former chairman serving as signatory while the people are suffering here.”
He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the release of his council’s subvention from source to enable the council perform its functions, saying “if they will not respect a court decision why are they going for appeal? The subvention comes from federal government but they are denying the people of Madagali of their constitutional right for four months, the president should stop this illegality and impunity by the Adamawa State government. Madagali is the only Local Government in Nigeria, out of 774, without subvention”.  
Ularamu confirmed that relief materials are on their way from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA)   which is chaired by Adamawa State Deputy Governor, James Bala Ngilari who is  sympathetic to the council chairman. He said “I and the deputy governor met with the NEMA DG in Abuja and he gave approval for the materials while I have already provided 50 cartons of drugs including anti malaria, vitamin   and ampiclox syrups for children”.
Warning of impending food shortage in his area, the chairman expressed fear over the probable repercussion of the crisis on food security due to the volume of food stuff produced in Izige and surrounding villages. He said “our markets heavily rely on the deserted areas for food supplies. The area produces rice, maize, beans, ground nuts, mango and vegetables all at commercial quantities”. 
Adamu Popka who is in his late 50s, said he could not afford the cost of transporting his sewing machine, few goats, farm produce and a bicycle, so he is looking forward to starting new life in Gulak . He said “I am a poor man, but I will never go back. I lost eight relatives including my brothers and two sons. As Muslims, we leave everything to God, but we will not return to that place”.
In his appeal to the authorities, Mamman Mara, a photographer in Gulak said he is accommodating 25 refugees in addition to his two wives and 11 children, “but the situation calls for this kind of sacrifice. Apart from those putting up in my house, I sent 15 others to my father’s house. All my neighbours are also hosting people. There is a man who was stranded with his two cows, eleven goats and chickens in a vehicle, I saw him crying, so I called him and provided space for the goods while he was accommodated somewhere”.
Generally the people are disturbed by the failure of federal authorities to protect lives and properties despite the establishment of an army division in the North Eastern Nigeria and military aircrafts deployed to the area.
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states have been under state of emergency declared by Nigeria’s president for nine months to help curb insurgency in the region despite earlier criticism of the declaration.