Information reaching 247ureports.com from Maiduguri indicates that the Jihadist group have struck again. The Islamic group attacked a village, Bama in the early morning hours of Monday, September 1, 2014. The attack took place when insurgents riding on several trucks led by armoured tanks stormed the town located about 30km north of Gwoza town. The Nigerian military presence, according to firsthand source, diminished significantly as the Boko Haram group approached the town of Bama. “The military abandoned their duty posts and refused to fight”, said the source.
An official of the state security service who spoke off the record confirmed the incident even as he said more troops are being sent to Bama to beef up security presence. It is not clear if the town is under captivity of the Boko Haram but eyewitnesses indicate that the Islamic group may have overpowered the Nigeria military.
A local security official, Muhammed Gava told reporters on phone that the insurgents came from the direction of Banki town, heading for Bama when they encountered soldiers and began exchange of fire before they later invaded the town.
“We heard that there are many casualties on both sides, but we cannot say the number or who had suffered more damage between the troops and the terrorists”, said Mr Gava.
As at 4pm [Nigerian time], the battle between the Jihadist group and the Nigerian military remain ongoing.
Already, the Jihadist group had taken over the town of Kirrennewa, a border town with Chad Republic – since July 3, 2014. The town remains under the control of the Jihadist group. The Nigerian military, according to eyewitnesses, have abandoned the town since its defeat by the Boko Haram ragtag team.
The Nigerian military headquarters following the attack on Bama has declared curfew in Maiduguri – to avert what it believes to be an imminent attack on Maiduguri by the Islamic group.
