Nigerian Troops Retake Bama, Halt Boko Haram's Advance Into Maiduguri

Source: thewillnigeria.com

… Terror Sect Insists Bama Still Under Its Control

BEVERLY HILLS, September 08, (THEWILL) - Nigerian troops have recaptured Bama, one of the major towns in Borno State, from the Boko Haram and halted the terrorist group's advance towards Maiduguri, the Borno capital.

A senior government official told Reuters Monday that troops have chased the Boko Haram out of Bama deploying warplanes and bombs.

“Bama has been recaptured by the soldiers and I can confirm to you Maiduguri is safe,” the official said.

A market trader from Bama, Babagana Modu, also confirmed to Reuters that soldiers were in control of the town, as government planes struck at Boko Haram positions in the surrounding area.

But a spokesman of the Boko Haram who identified himself as Abu Zinnira dismissed the claim that Bama had been retaken by Nigerian soldiers. He told reporters over the phone in Maiduguri that Bama still remained under the group's control.

Zinnira also insisted that Michika and a significant part of Mubi in Adamawa State, North Eastern Nigeria remained under the control of the sect as the militants continue to fight to consolidate and expand its hold on villages and towns under its command.

“This is a rebuttal from the information dissemination and sensitization unit of the Jama'atul Ahlil Sunna Lidawati Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) on the series of lies that the Nigeria military have been feeding the world on our recent conquests.

“Let the whole world know that we are on the path of victory because up to this minute, the town of Bama is under our control, the whole of Michika is now in our hands, as well as Manalapan (Junction of) Mubi is now fully under our control.

“We are assuring the world that this would be continuous and there will be no going back by God's grace,” the sect's spokesman said during the call from a restricted phone number.

Thousands have fled towns in Yola, Borno and Adamawa following the raids of the Boko Haram, which often leaves behind trails of deaths and destructions.