Residents of Mubi, Adamawa State are reeling from the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew as security agents comb the town and surrounding locations for terrorists believed to be hiding in the area. A security agent and several residents told SaharaReporters that the restrictions imposed on residents of the area are similar to those recently put in place in Yobe State.
Mubi is one of the suspected hiding spots for Islamist extremists whose bomb attacks on churches, public places and Northern bureaucrats as well as political figures have besieged Nigeria’s north-east region.
A source who is a security agent disclosed that Mubi had been plagued by serial killings in the past one week. “These killings and other nefarious activities imminently prove that some terrorists are indeed hiding out in the area,” said the source.
He revealed that security agents received intelligence reports that necessitated the current sweeping search operations in the area. One resident of Mubi reported that sporadic gunshots were heard in the town, forcing people to remain home. Another resident described a frenzied atmosphere in the town, adding that he and his neighbors steered clear of streets for fear of the unknown.
Neither the state government nor the military command has issued an official statement disclosing the reasons for the curfew.
Frightened residents told SaharaReporters that their fear was compounded by the lack of effective mobile phone services in the area. They reported that they experienced poor service by Nigeria’s three major telecommunication service providers – MTN, Glo and Airtel.
A trapped resident of Mubi, who identified himself as Ahmed Ibrahim Sajo, sent a distress message to a social network forum. The message read: “Thank God we have seen the end of today, but there was a lot of shooting inside the town and we dare not venture go out to find out what is happening. Dear all please pray for us in Mubi Adamawa State. There is a shutdown of the town today Sunday 23rd September, 2012. Anyway I managed to get through to NAN. Hope Nigeria will hear our story. This morning we woke up to an announcement that there is a DAWN to DUSK curfew in the town. Yes, from 6.00 a.m. in the morning to God know(s) when later. What for we don’t know. And in a town that is at the extreme periphery of Nigeria with no Radio, no Television and no any kind of media presence, only God knows what will happen next. We are in a serious limbo compounded by the absences MTN network and epileptic service by other GSM providers. Yesterday a section of the town was cordoned-off and arrests were effected. Today a daytime curfew imposed what next? We are in bondage. Please someone should plead for our release. Meanwhile we can’t go out to enquire about what is happening, and there is no means of reaching us ‘cos there is no media organ in the town. Pray for us. Anyone with contacts with the authorities should plead for us. Oh! What bondage in a country we voluntarily voted to be part of.”
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