Boko Haram Takes Over Bama As Air Force Jets Bomb Barracks

Reports emerging from Bama, in Borno State, indicate that Boko Haram militants have taken over control of the city.

The state’s second-largest city was attacked earlier today by the militants.  That first attack was initially repelled by Nigerian troops, but the militants appear to have returned in greater force, leading some of the soldiers to follow fleeing civilians in an effort to escape. 




Residents are saying tonight that Boko Haram has completely overrun the city and hoisted its flag in the city center.

A Nigeria military statement credited to General Chris Olukolade didn’t offer much hope for Bama, as the terse statement merely stated that the attack on Bama was “being repelled.” 


Sahara Reporters reports that An intelligence source said reinforcements were underway to Bama from Maiduguri, but our own sources said only a few soldiers, in four armored tanks, were seen near Yezaram River.  He added that the unit was in no way capable of re-taking Bama from the militants.

But before the city fell to Boko Haram, the insurgents  arrived in Bama as early 5:30a.m.but met stiff resistance from soldiers in the city.  As the battle drew into the evening, however, about 500 soldiers initially drafted in to fight the insurgents fled to Maimalari Barracks in Maid, with thousands of civilians fleeing the city.

Trouble started when an Air Force jet sent in to assist the ground troops bombed the Bama Barracks after civilians that had sought refuge there were sent away by soldiers who then abandoned their weapons and sought to flee with the civilians.  A few minutes later, the jet bombed the barracks, leading to casualties on the side of soldiers.