Boko Haram Meets its Waterloo, 59 Terrorists Killed in Bama

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The attempt by Boko Haram to expand its Islamic Caliphate in North-east Nigeria by overrunning another major Borno town, Bama, was met with stiff resistance yesterday from the Nigerian military, leading to the death of 59 members of the sect.
The terrorist group, which slightly over a week ago declared a caliphate in Gwoza, attacked Bama, one of the largest towns in the troubled Borno State with a population of over 500,000 and a distance of 78 kilometres away from Maiduguri, yesterday morning, but met its match this time in Nigerian soldiers who faced members of the group squarely in the crossfire that ensued.

According to a security source, 59 out of some 200 insurgents who invaded the town fell to the superior firepower and tactics of the soldiers.
He said over 30 insurgents were also left injured, while some were forced to retreat into the bush and others fled at top speed via the highway.

Some residents of Bama, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, said they woke up early to heavy bombardment as gunshot rented the air.
One of the residents said: “Everyone was thrown into pandemonium as we continued to hear deafening gunshots and we were later to hear that over 200 Boko Haram terrorists attempted to capture the town.
“We also learnt that they stormed the town through Bama-Banki-Gwoza Road but they were intercepted by gallant military troops near the Bama Mobile Police Unit located about five kilometres away from the centre of the town.
“They were believed to have tactically attempted to enter Bama town in a convoy of military vehicles and motorcycles, dressed in military uniforms and armed with sophisticated weapons and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).”

He added that during the battle, gunshots were heard and there was the heavy sound of explosions from rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) as well as bombs.
He said the explosions which rented the air forced many residents to flee the town through the bush and some by road to neighbouring villages and towns, including Maiduguri and nearby Konduga.

Another resident of Bama, Mallam Mohammed Bunu Ahmed, told journalists on the phone from the town that “there was an attempt by the insurgents to enter Bama and capture it as they did to Gwoza a few weeks back. But thank God for the good efforts of the troops stationed near the Mobile Police Unit who repelled the attack with the assistance of their colleagues from the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army. The troops successfully killed over 59 insurgents and injured over 30 of them”.

He said the whole episode was so frightening that it forced many residents to flee to Maiduguri, adding that some ran to Konduga, while others took refuge in some villages around the town.

A resident of the town, who was able to make it to Maiduguri alongside  others, told journalists at the Konduga motor park, where over 200 persons who fled the town to Maiduguri were temporarily given refuge, said they were waiting for the intervention of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), the state government and other well-meaning members of the society.

Narrating his ordeal, another person who fled to Maiduguri, Alhaji Masa Bukar, said: “We are here because we woke up this morning to the sound of explosions enveloping us. As early as the Subh prayer (4.45 am prayer) we heard gunshots and RPG shots around the Technical College and Mobile Police Unit along Banki Road.
“We were advised by the military and Civilian JTF to leave the town so as to allow them confront the insurgents with minimum collateral damage. This made us flee the town.”

He disclosed that many fleeing residents of the town stopped along the way in Kawuri or Goniri or Konduga, “but we decided to come straightaway to Maiduguri where the military presence is high. We were very afraid”.
He said more people were expected to seek refuge in Maiduguri, adding, “They should be here any moment from now.”

Ahmed equally said as they were heading towards Maiduguri, they saw a convoy of military armoured tanks moving towards Bama.
Also, a traditional title holder in Bama, who did not want his name in print, told journalists that the people of Bama were excited over the new efforts of the military in the area and the relocation of the 21 Armoured Brigade Battalion to Bama, insisting that were it not for the gallantry of the soldiers, Bama would have fallen to the terrorists.
He said: “Even the reinforcement being done by the GOC now is a clear indication that the military is serious and ready to rid the state of the insurgency unlike in the past.”
Some residents of Maiduguri along Bama Road further informed that a convoy of over 25 military vehicles and armoured cars were seen moving rapidly towards Bama town from Maiduguri between 10.30 am and 11.30 am.

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