55 Killed as Boko Haram Sacks Bama in Borno State

Boko Haram

The ancient city of Bama in Borno State has been turned into a ghost town following daring multiple attacks on police, military and prison installations in the town in the wee hours of Tuesday  by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

The attack, which led to the death of at least 55 people, forced residents of Bama to either flee the town or lock up their homes and businesses for fear of their lives.

The Joint Task Force (JTF), which took journalists to the town to assess the damage caused by the terrorists, said at least 22 policemen; 14 prison officials, including the commander and prison doctor; 13 suspected members of the sect; three children; two soldiers; and one woman, were killed during the multiple attacks on the town.

The attack on Bama occurred a few hours before the federal government arraigned four suspected terrorists believed to have been involved in the bombing of the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Abuja almost two years ago before a Federal High Court, Abuja.

According to sources, 300 suspected members of Boko Haram were said to have laid siege on Bama at 5 am Tuesday by first attacking an army barracks – 200 Tank Battallion - in the town with the intention of seizing the military facility.

Also attacked were the magistrates’ court in front of the Shehu of Bama’s palace and the prison beside the palace.

However, as the terrorists attacked the barracks, they were repelled by the eagle-eyed soldiers who matched them fire for fire and killed several insurgents who were forced to retreat with the corpses of their members.

But they were unable to take away 13 of their members whose bodies lay lifeless, and one other member who was injured and tied to the stake when the JTF and journalists visited.

As the sect members were attacking the army barracks, which is on the outskirts of the town, other members were simultaneously attacking other facilities in Bama.