Outgunned Boko Haram fighters beat a quick retreat out of Gombe, the north east Nigerian city and environs on Saturday after being pounded with air strikes by Nigeria’s Air Force jets and ground troops.
They left, the way they came: in a convoy of vehicles, carrying dozens of corpses.
Witnesses said as they were leaving, they also dropped leaflets warning the Nigerians in the area not to take part in the coming elections.
“They were heard telling our people in the villages leading to Gombe that they have not come to harm civilians but the security agents. They were also dropping copies of papers with messages written in Hausa warning people not to participate in the coming elections, lest they risk being killed,” said resident Malam Hassan.
According to a report by The Associated Press, written in the paper is a message in which Boko Haram warned that its fighters will attack all polling stations in the March 28 elections. The Boko Haram paper also said residents should not assist the army and pledged not to attack those who stayed out of its fight against the government.
“We are calling on you all to come and join us in the Jihad and embrace Islamic Sharia jurisprudence,” said the papers dropped by Boko Haram.
The fiercest fighting was about three kilometers (two miles) outside the town, resident Jummai Aliyu said.
Two air force jets joined soldiers in attacking the rebels after they assaulted Gombe in the morning.
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