Nigerian troops yesterday killed numerous insurgents belonging to Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, but failed in a daring operation to recover the strategic town of Bama in Borno State seized a day before by militant fighters.
In what a military source described as “a heavy gun battle,” Nigerian troops inflicted a significant death toll on Boko Haram fighters. But the source added that the Islamist group also mounted a dogged resistance to the military operation, ultimately forcing Nigerian troops to retreat.
A combined team of military troops and members of the civilian Joint Task Force gathered in nearby Kawuri village in the early hours of yesterday and launch a fight to recover Bama from the militants. However, the well-armed Islamist fighters mounted a stiff resistance that also killed an unspecified number of troops and civilians, compelling Nigerian troops and members of the civilian JTF to retreat to Konduga.
A member of the local vigilante that participated in the attempted capture of Bama said Nigerian troops were unable to enter Bama town. “Yesterday they [militants] were many at Kawuri village. So many of them were killed after hours of gun battles, but we were advised to withdraw. Nigerian troops left to go to Konduga and our boys are back to Maiduguri,” he said.
A military source at the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, confirmed the withdrawal of soldiers. He added that officers would re-strategize before launching another attack to recapture Bama. “Yes, we made an attempt to reclaim the town but the operation was not successful. We dealt with them [Boko Haram fighters]. Many of them were killed and wounded. We are still working hard and will take back Bama from the militants,” the officer said.
Two days ago, the Islamist group seized Bama after killing scores of civilians and overwhelming a Nigerian Army barracks based in the town. The seizure marked the first major town in Nigeria’s violence-plagued northeast captured by the insurgents in 2015.
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