Nigerian Army and Boko Haram engaged in fierce fight for Bornos second city Bama Tuesday, 02 September 2014 08:31 1 0 altNIGERIAN troops and Boko Haram insurgents have been engaged in fierce fighting in Bama in Borno State over the last 24 hours with conflicting reports coming about who is winning what is an intense battle. According to the Nigerian Army, over 50 insurgents have been killed and many more injured during an attack on Morababa village on the outskirts of Bama. Morababa is close to Bama, the second largest city in Borno State after the capital Maiduguri, which Boko Haram is claiming to have captured and added to its self-proclaimed caliphate. According to Boko Haram, however, it now controls Bama after it launched a ferocious attack on the city yesterday morning. It says it now intends to advance on Maiduguri, where most of the Bama residents have fled to. Many of the refugees are currently in Mairi Day Government Secondary school, located on Bama Road inside the state capital. In response to the attacks, the military authorities in Maiduguri have extended the ongoing curfew hours in the city and its environs from 6pm to 6am every day. Col Sani Usman, a spokesman for the Seventh Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, said the new hours would take effect today and stressed that anyone who flouts the new directive will be arrested and prosecuted. Boko Haram militants have stepped up their attacks in Borno State recently and have captured a number of towns in the last few weeks, forcing the authorities to act. Yesterday, it was reported that about 500 soldiers have fled the battle front in Bama after initially overwhelming Boko Haram militants who tried to take over the city. Boko Haram militants were believed to have arrived in Bama as early 5.30am but met stiff resistance from soldiers in the city but as the battle drew into the evening, the soldiers fled to Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri. Apparently, trouble started when a Nigerian Air Force jet sent in to assist the ground troops accidentally bombed the Bama barracks, leading to numerous casualties. It is believed that Boko Haram have gone for reinforcements in the hope that they can press ahead and capitalise on their good fortune. However, military sources claim they remain in control of Bama and that Boko Harams attack has been repelled. Soldiers of the 21 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army have been relocated to Bama and are said to holding out despite repeated atte4mpts to take the city. One military source said: “In their typical guerrilla manner, about 200 to 300 insurgents invaded Bama with armoured vehicles and motorcycles. They were attacking all persons and objects in sight as part of their bid to annex the town which they lost to the troops last December but our troops rose to the occasion and launched counter-attacks which led to heavy casualty figures on the part of the insurgents. “The invasion was part of their larger plans to take over all towns in Borno State as part of the declaration of an Islamic Caliphate. To them, Bama is strategic because most of their deadly commanders hail from the town and for our troops to be in control of the area meant that they have lost a coordinating base. Boko Haram initially lost control of Bama in December 2013 during a fierce two week battle during which it lost 113 members. Bama, which is about 64 kilometres to Maiduguri, is seen as a strategic target for the terrorist sect, which is hoping to use Bama as a base for its final march on Maiduguri. - See more at: nigerianwatch/news/5217-nigerian-army-and-boko-haram-engaged-in-fierce-battle-for-bornos-second-city-bama#sthash.jPP3AYmg.2pyDZN0N.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 18:03:53 +0000
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