YOLA, Nigeria (AP) — Residents and officials say Islamic extremists have overrun a major northeastern town that is home to Nigeria’s defense chief, looting the army barracks, freeing prisoners from jail and frightening thousands of residents to flee.
The continuing attacks come despite the military’s announcement Oct. 17 that Boko Haram extremists had agreed to an immediate cease-fire. Boko Haram has made no announcement that it is ending its 5-year-old insurgency that has killed thousands and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes in northeast Nigeria.
A spokesman for Adamawa state Gov. Bala James Ngillari confirmed that insurgents earlier Wednesday seized the town of Uba and then pursued fleeing soldiers to Mubi, a commercial center of more than 200,000 people and home to the chief of defense staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
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