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.
Source: Yahoo News
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