By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS

Boko Haram militants have renamed the recently captured town of Mubi in Nigeria's northeastern Adamawa State "Madinatul-Islam," meaning "City of Islam" in Arabic, according to local residents and security sources.

"They have not only captured Mubi, but have also renamed it 'Madinatul-Islam'," Ubah Salisu, a local who fled the city before its capture, told Anadolu Agency by phone from Yola, Adamawa State's provincial capital.

Last week, Mubi – located almost 200km from Yola – fell to heavily-armed insurgents who arrived in droves after government troops stationed there had withdrawn.

"They have asked locals not to be afraid, but to prepare for the application of Islamic Law," said Salisu.

"I cannot confirm whether anyone has been punished based on the new regime, but I am aware that they [Boko Haram] have ordered those who shut their shops to reopen them or risk punishment," he added.

A security source confirmed the Salisu's assertions.

"Our intelligence indicates that they have removed everything in Mubi that indicated it was part of Nigeria," according to the source, who asked not to be named.

"They have new signposts reading 'Madinatul-Islam', which they said was part of the Islamic caliphate headquartered in Gwoza," he added.

Boko Haram has in recent months seized control of several towns and villages across Nigeria's Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, declaring them part of an "Islamic caliphate" in the country's north.

"It is a slap to the sovereignty of this country; we are not going to let it stand," asserted the security source.

"But we cannot rush this, which is why plans are now being made to cleverly dislodge them," he said. "Because of the civilian population, indiscriminate bombing has been ruled out."

The Boko Haram insurgency remains Nigeria's top security challenge as the African powerhouse gears up for a general election next February in which President Goodluck Jonathan will stand for reelection.

Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in Nigeria's local Hausa language, first emerged in the early 2000s, preaching against government misrule and corruption.

The group later became violent, however, after the death of its leader in 2009 while in police custody.

In the five years since, the shadowy sect has been blamed for numerous attacks in Nigeria – on places of worship and on government institutions – along with thousands of deaths.

Boko Haram has been designated a terrorist organization by Nigeria, Turkey and the United States.

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