Boko Haram renames Gwoza ‘Darul Hikma’ in Borno

By Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri with agency report

Boko Haram has renamed another town it captured in northeast Nigeria, as part of campaign to establish a caliphate in the region, residents who have fled in recent days said.

Gwoza, in Borno state, which was captured in July is now being called Darul Hikma or “House of Wisdom”, multiple residents said.

And the town of Mubi in Adamawa state captured last week is now being called Madinatul Islam, or “City of Islam” in Arabic.

Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a video released in August declared that he had made Gwoza part of a caliphate — an announcement that recalled a similar move by the Islamic State militant group which has taken over parts of Iraq and Syria.

The extremists are believed to control more than two dozen towns and villages in Nigeria’s far northeast and there are signs that they are trying to advance south towards Adamawa’s capital Yola.