DESPITE GOVT AERIAL ASSULT, BOKO HARAM STILL CONTROLS BAMA, FLEEING RESIDENTS SAY Contrary to claims by military authorities, the Borno State government and youth vigilante leaders, fleeing residents say Boko Haram insurgents are in still in control of Bama town. They told our correspondents in Maiduguri that hundreds of people from Bama and adjoining villages still trooped into Maiduguri yesterday, and that the insurgents were firmly in control. The Defence Headquarters had Monday said Nigerian troops repelled the attack on Bama while the Borno State deputy governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha, said Tuesday that Bama was in the hands of Nigerian troops. Earlier in the day, leaders of the youth vigilantes, also known as civilian JTF, through their legal adviser, Barrister Jibrin Gunda, held what many described as an unusual press conference where they said Nigerian troops were in control of Bama. But many residents who came to Maiduguri disputed the claims. “I am appalled by the pronouncement of some people who are saying all is well in Bama. Of course that is our wish but the truth is that the Boko Haram terrorists are in charge for now,” Muhammadu Mai Tumatur, a resident of Bama said. Other sources said all soldiers, mobile policemen and other security operatives have withdrawn from Bama. The insurgents who hoisted their flags at the 202 Tank Battalion in Bama and the emir’s palace are already issuing orders, witnesses said. Our correspondents gathered that soldiers gallantly fought the invaders on Monday, but had to succumb to superior fire power from over 500 insurgents. It was gathered that the insurgents, armed with anti aircraft launchers and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), guns and countless ammunitions stormed Bama in a convoy of dozens of Hilux vehicles with cover from Armoured Personnel Carriers. Both military and other sources said when the insurgents had their way close to strategic places, including the military facility in Bama, the soldiers remained resolute in containing them but were overwhelmed by their surging number. A soldier said over 130 insurgents were killed during the fight. He said in addition to reinforcement of soldiers from Kawuri, Konduga and Maiduguri, two fighter jets flew in to assist the troops. “Sadly, before the arrival of the fighter jets, the terrorists had inflicted damages, especially at the barracks because they threw explosives which made it impossible for us to protect the barracks…in fact, we had to withdraw,” he said. He said earlier in the morning, the insurgents divided themselves into various groups- some confronting troops at Mararraban Banki (T- Junction) some headed towards the 202 Tank Battalion, some to the mobile base in the town and many others towards the emir’s palace. Another source said when it became obvious that the insurgents had taken over the army barracks, the fighter jets dropped explosives into the armoury and some APCs, basically to make them ineffective so that the terrorists would not use them. “The terrorists are not in any way better than us, the only difference is that most of the fighting equipment they came with are serviceable and extremely effective. On the other hand, ours are not serviceable, if not, we would have contained them because we had upper hand when the confrontation started around 5am. “For now, we have withdrawn from Bama and I think the decision was taken for strategic reasons. Most of us are in Maiduguri but some of our colleagues are missing in action. The good story is that we killed a substantial number of the terrorists and many of them have life- threatening injuries,” he said. A youth vigilante member said 127 corpses of the insurgents were counted around 2pm on Monday. --CULLED FROM DAILY TRUST
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 08:09:40 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015