by Azubuike Azikiwe
THe Reuters news agency is reporting that Boko Haram insurgents have taken over large parts of Bama, Borno state after hours of fighting with the Army. The terrorists launched an attack on the town in the early hours of yesterday. They were initially repelled but sources told Reuters that they reinforced overnight.
The battle has reportedly killed scores and displaced thousands of residents, according to security sources. The sources said there were heavy casualties on both sides and as many as 5,000 people fled.
Bukar Auwalu, a trader who fled with his wife, three children and brother, spoke to Reuters via telephone, explaining what happened.
“When we started hearing gunshots, everybody was confused. There was firing form different directions. We just ran to the outskirts of town. There were military helicopters and a fighter jet. We slept in the bush on the outskirts of town,” he said.
Boko Haram recently captured the remote hilly farming town of Gwoza, also in Borno state, after a fierce fire fight with the Army last month.
The sect’s leader Abubakar Shekau had in a video declared it an “Islamic caliphate” that would be ruled by strict Islamic law. Boko Haram has killed and displaced thousand of northerners since their attacks began in 2009.
YNaija is attempting to get independent confirmation of this report.
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