Weekly5 Boko Haram Seizes Nigerian Town where Schoolgirls Were Abducted

ABUJA, NIGERIA—

The Nigerian army says it has pushed Boko Haram militants out of the northeastern town of Chibok, the home of more than 200 schoolgirls the group kidnapped earlier this year.

Army officials say the military had recaptured the town, in an operation late Saturday, just two days after it was seized by Boko Haram.

Locals say the army was aided in the operation by a local vigilante force.

There was no information about casualties from Saturday's battle.

Boko Haram has taken a number of towns in the northeastern states of Borno and Adamawa this year for a "caliphate" proclaimed by the group's leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Nigerian security forces and vigilante groups have succeeded in retaking some areas, including the Adamawa town of Mubi, freed during a battle on Thursday.

Fighting has continued despite a cease-fire announced by the Nigerian government on October 17.  Shekau said in a subsequent video that no cease-fire existed and that the kidnapped schoolgirls had been converted to Islam and married off.

The kidnapping from a Chibok secondary school April 14 made headlines and drew outrage from around the world.  The Nigerian government has been unable to rescue the schoolgirls despite surveillance and intelligence help provided by the United States, Britain and other allies.

Hundreds of fighters on motorcycles and trucks poured into the town of Chibok late afternoon Friday, overrunning the military forces and vigilante groups to take control.

“The local vigilantes did put up a fight with the contingent of the military that’s in Chibok, but they were outgunned,” said Pogo Bitrus, chairman of the Chibok elders’ forum.

Who: The Nigerian army  and Boko Haram 

Why: Army officials say the military had recaptured the town, in an operation late Saturday, just two days after it was seized by Boko Haram.

What: The Nigerian army says it has pushed Boko Haram militants out of the northeastern town of Chibok, the home of more than 200 schoolgirls the group kidnapped earlier this year.

Where: chairman of the Chibok elders’ forum.

When: not given

How: “The local vigilantes did put up a fight with the contingent of the military that’s in Chibok, but they were outgunned

recapture奪回，收復

vigilante【英】治安維持會成員；自發組織的維持治安者

subsequent後來的，其後的，隨後的[B]

surveillance看守；監視

alliy同盟國；同盟者

contingent分遣隊；代表團；（大組中的）一組[G]

outgun火力壓過；武器多於；力量超過，比……有優勢

forum討論會

source: http://www.voanews.com/content/nigerias-boko-haram-seizes-chibok-home-of-kidnapped-girls/2520472.html