Boko Haram insurgents are regrouping in parts of Borno State following a month-long military crackdown.
The fundamentalists have been largely on the run since the May 14 declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the effort to restore peace to the Northeast.
However, refugees fleeing the battle zone in Borno State said they sighted some of the insurgents regrouping and terrorising residents in Gwoza and Bama districts.
The refugees who arrived Maiduguri, the state capital, said the militants have also written letters warning government workers to resign their jobs or face death.
Other refugees have reportedly fled to neighbouring Cameroun.
“They warned government officials and civil servants in Bama to resign or else face death in the next seven days. We are all scared, this could be more deadly, so we ran for our dear lives,” said Abba Fannami, who fled to Maiduguri with six family members.A police officer said Boko Haram fighters were ransacking homes in Gwoza district, forcing residents to hide in caves in the rocky hills.
Soldiers and police on bombing raids with jet fighters and helicopter gunships have dislodged the insurgents from camps in a game reserve. But the refugees confirmed reports that the fighters have regrouped in the mountains and rocky hills of Gwoza and Bama districts.
In recent days the extremists — whose name means “Western education is sacrilege” — have targeted schools, killing 16 high school students and two teachers in two attacks.
The militants also have attacked primary schools, burning down at least 50 in the past year, according to the Borno State Commissioner for Primary Education, Tijjani Abba Ali.
Spokesmen for the Defence Headquarters and the Army could not be reached for their comments on the development.
In a separate operation in Kano State, police said they rounded up 400 migrants yesterday and are deporting those who do not have the necessary documents.