BEVERLY HILLS, September 11, (THEWILL) – Despite the claim by the military that Bama, a commercial town in Borno State, which was seized by Boko Haram insurgents last week had been recaptured from the insurgents, some residents of the town Thursday insisted that the military was only being economical with the truth as they maintained that the troubled town was still under the firm control of the terrorists.
The residents who spoke under the aegis of a group, Bama Development Foundation (BDF), at a media briefing in Maiduguri, the state capital, after fleeing from the terrorists’ attack at home, maintained that Boko Haram gunmen were still in control in Bama.
Chairman of BDF, Mallam Mohammed Hassan, lamented that the Nigerian Army though resisted the insurgents for several hours when they attacked on September 1, the military was eventually overpowered by the terrorists.
While calling for the deployment of more troops to the town, he disclosed that the fall of Bama to the terrorists resulted to the loss of several lives as some residents got drowned at River Yadzaram while trying to flee just as some others were shot dead by the insurgents.
He lamented that many are still in captivity and have no way of escape, especially women, children and aged persons, with many others still missing, displaced and killed in nearby villages.
“As a matter of fact, we are calling on state and Federal Government to expedite action towards reclaiming Bama from the hands of terrorists as those in captivity are under serious trauma, starvation, distress with varying degrees of injuries, while on the other hand, those that have lost their lives are yet to be buried,” he said.
He also lamented that “After 11 days of the incident, no search and rescue operation has been conducted,” stressing that “unfortunately, it is to our knowledge that security and welfare of the people are fundamental obligations of meaningful government.”
