Thousands of Bama residents in Borno State have fled to the town of Kawuri as heavy gunfire continued near the town as Nigerian troops battle militants belonging to the Islamist group, Boko Haram.
The militants stormed Moraraba village near Bama, the second most populous city in Borno State, in the early hours of Monday. According to refugees who fled, the militants started shooting sporadically as they entered the town.
Nigerian troops and members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) engaged the militants, and the conflict was ongoing at the time of the filing of this report.
The fighting, which has lasted several hours, appears to have weakened the militants. A security source told SaharaReporters that many of the insurgents came from Gwoza, a major town recently seized by the militants.
A Maiduguri resident, Modu Bukar, said, "My mother called me this morning to come and pick them at Kawuri village. She said they left Bama due to heavy shooting near the town now. I am just confused,” he said.
Another source told our reporter, “Nigerian troops were seen heading towards Bama in the morning to assist those at the 21st Brigade barracks which was recently relocated to Bama.”
Moraraba is about 10 kilometers from Bama, where at least 16 militants were apprehended and killed yesterday by local vigilantes.
SaharaReporters revealed in an exclusive report yesterday that Boko Haram militants were planning a major attack on the state capital, Maiduguri. Bama is less than 40 kilometers from Maiduguri.