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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