Less than a week after the bloody clash between the Boko Haram Islamist sect and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State which claimed almost 200 lives, another battle took place on Thursday in Bama, another town in Borno State, in which 17 people were killed and over 200 houses burnt.
According to the commanding military officer in charge of Bama Barracks, A.G Laka who was briefing Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima who paid a visit to the town, trouble started in the town when armed Boko Haram gunmen attacked a police patrol vehicle of a Divisional Police Officer killing two cops.
A gun battle ensued, in which five more police officers were also killed and ten insurgents were also killed.
Laka said another ambush on soldiers in the town on the same day claimed the life of a soldier and injured four others and drew the response of the joint team of soldiers and police who returned fire on the raging attackers, leading to a colossal destruction of buildings mostly shopping malls and shops.
Angry residents called on the federal government to withdraw the soldiers from the streets of the town; even as they vowed to lay down their lives should they suffer further attacks.
On a visit to the town, this correspondent saw hundreds of houses and commercial buildings burnt.
A local ward head, who declined mentioning his name for security reasons, said over 200 small time traders lost their wares in the fire.
Mr. Laka said that Boko Haram insurgents were using civilians, mostly women and children in the thatch houses as shield.
He said the special bullets fired by soldiers are called tracers, saying “once they hit target they catch fire.”
The Borno State Governor expressed sadness with the development and called for a general caution on the part of operatives and residents.
He ordered that seven trucks of food items be distributed to the displaced residents, while a committee is expected to advise government on compensation for victims who suffered losses.