Boko Haram Attacks, Captures Bara, Yobe State

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, September 4th, 2014

Ganiyu Nasirudeen

After a fierce and stalemated battle in Bama, Borno state on Tuesday, dreaded Boko Haram sustained its offensive and attack as its members invaded Bara and Banki towns in Yobe and Borno states respectively, taking over control of the enclaves.

A resident and trader, Musa Abdulahi in Bara who escaped by whiskers confirmed the latest attack by insurgents to BBC, explaining that the town was attacked by Boko Haram, without restriction by the Military, while the militants were moving around the entire town, preaching and asking residents to jettison government work as well as join in the fight for Allah.

Sequel to fear of being trapped in the latest attacks, African Examiner sources indicated that the Traditional rulers and many residents in the captured towns, have fled to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and neighbouring Cameroon, thereby increasing the number of displaced persons to over 30,000 according to the figure released Wednesday by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Residents also fled to the neighbouring Cameroon.

Confusion trailed Tuesday early morning attack on Bama town as the Military hierarchy and JTF denied capturing of the town by the insurgents. Death toll later in the day was put at 180.

Boko Haram appears to have changed focus in its invasion as concentration in recent times is now on taking over towns in the North Eastern Nigeria. The insurgents’ leader, Abubakar Shekau announced and declared about two weeks ago, in a video clip another troubled town, Gwoza an Islamic Caliphate, saying the government should forget about the town being part of Nigerian territories.

No official reactions yet on the latest attack.