He also lamented the unhindered advancement of the insurgents in the Gwoza part of Borno where the insurgents have already declared as their Caliphate.
A statement signed by Fr. Obasogie reads: “The Boko Haram sect has advanced greatly in their rampage and killings, to the extent of declaring a Caliphate in Gwoza local government area of Borno State, a town bordering Borno and Adamawa States.
“As it is well known, the catholic diocese of Maiduguri covers the whole of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States, the three states under strict emergency role.
“Apart from the churches within Maiduguri that have great share of such attacks by the terrorists group, all the churches on the major road linking Maiduguri and Adamawa State have been closed down due to same acts of terrorism. St Timothy’s Bama had been under siege since last year.
‘The Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Timothy Cosmas had long been relocated to a different Parish. At the early part of this year, St. Peter’s Pulka was badly attacked. Thanks to God, the Pastor Fr. James John was luckily unavailable. The terrorists searched and wanted to kill the holy Priest of God.
“Lately, precisely on Friday the 22th August 2014, the dreaded group had moved steadily and yet more boldly into Gwoza which is in Borno State and the neighbouring Madagali local government area in Adamawa State, declaring a caliphate.
“The assisting priest of St. Denis Madagali, Fr. Aiden Ibrahim, fled the parish with some of his parishioners to the mountains, upon hearing serious fire battle from the terrorists. Since the curfew declared afterwards was dusk to dawn, they had to travel on foot through the mountains to Michika a neighbouring LGA where movement was free.
“Since then Madagali and Gwoza had been greatly under siege and strictly controlled by the Boko Haram insurgents.”
Culled from The Nation
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