Tracking The Growth Of Boko Haram

As Islamist Militants Advance, Residents Flee a Nigerian City -- New York Times

DAKAR, Senegal — Amid fears that Islamist militants were closing in on the major city in Nigeria's northeast, hundreds of residents were said to be fleeing Maiduguri on Thursday in the face of doubts that the army could repel an attack on the metropolis of more than one million people.

The militant group Boko Haram has captured towns to the north, south and east of Maiduguri in recent months in a series of bloody assaults, and appears also to have taken control of the last major town on the road southeast of the city, Bama, 45 miles away, according to reports on Thursday in Nigerian news media and accounts of witnesses.



 The militants have already announced in video messages their intention to carve out an Islamist territory in Nigeria's north. A successful attack on Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram, a major commercial and government hub and the capital of Borno State, would represent a significant advance.

"It's very tense," said Maikaramba Saddiq, a human rights activist in Maiduguri and the local head of Nigeria's Civil Liberties Organization. "The Boko Haram have taken over Bama town. That's why many of them are running away. They think the next target is Maiduguri."


{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ VERDANT STORIES SECTION
 TITLE>>>>>>FORBIDDEN
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
 Chapter Four
 Tanko did not share the milk in two halves, instead he ignored Bawa and made sure the four of them had a portion. This annoyed Bawa but pleased Garba who was grateful to have tasted the master's milk. It was sweet and very tasty. The following day, the boys learnt how to count. A black teacher who spoke English and called himself Mr. Felix taught. He explained it in Hausa as he taught in English. Garba liked it and he understood what Mr. Felix taught. He was very happy. "Tomorrow, you will learn how to write all what I've been teaching you. You will write one to ten," he said as he closed for the day. "I like Mr. Felix," Garba said later when he met Sule and Tanko. Bawa was avoiding them because of what happened the previous day. "Yes," said Sule. "He's a kind man. He's not like Mr. Jacobs or all these other teachers who speak through their nostrils." "Where is Bawa?" Garba asked Tanko. "The greedy boy says he's not interested in being friends with us again," Tanko said. "I guess it's because of what happened yesterday," Garba said. TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW....PLEASE VISIT OUR BLOG AGAIN TOMORROW FOR A CONTINUATION OF THIS AMAZING STORY!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}