Boko Haram readies for battle in North East Nigeria

Maiduguri - Boko Haram fighters are massing at
their headquarters in the northeast Nigerian town
of Gwoza in preparation for a showdown with
multinational forces, residents and an intelligence
officer said.
A woman trapped there since Gwoza was seized
in July told her daughter that Islamic extremists
are urging civilians to leave town to avoid being
killed in crossfire in an anticipated major battle.
Hajiya Adama said her mother said the fighters
also have released young women being held
against their will, including some made pregnant
during their captivity.
She said her mother left last week and escaped
to the town of Yola, in neighboring Adamawa
state.
"She told me that Boko Haram terrorists asked
them to leave suddenly, that they were preparing
grounds for a major battle," Adama told The
Associated Press. "She said while being helped by
other women to leave through Madagali, they saw
many Boko Haram terrorists in trucks and some
on bikes moving toward Gwoza."
An intelligence officer said security forces are
moving slowly for fear of harming civilians, and
especially since Boko Haram is surrounding
Gwoza with land mines.
He confirmed forces from Chad are in the area,
speaking on condition of anonymity because he is
not authorized to speak to reporters.
Boko Haram in August declared an Islamic
caliphate across a swath of northeast Nigeria
where it held sway. In recent weeks, Chadian and
Nigerian troops have retaken a score of towns.
But the militants continue to kill scores in suicide
bombings and village attacks.
Retaking Gwoza would be a major coup for
Nigeria and for the campaign of President
Goodluck Jonathan for re-election at critical
March 28 ballots. Critics say the contest is too
close to call between Jonathan, a southern
Christian, and retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a
former military dictator who has vowed to stamp
out the 6-year-old insurgency that has killed an
estimated 12,000 people and left 1.6 million
homeless.

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