Battle for Bama rages

The troops of the Nigerian Army are battling the Boko Haram fighters for the full control of Bama, Borno State.

An intelligence source,

who confided in our correspondent, said that the troops had made substantial gain since effective ground operations commenced on Tuesday.

The source said that the soldiers had recorded significant gains against the insurgents in the battle said to be “very technical.”

It was leant that surrounding communities and suburbs occupied by the insurgents had been taken over by the troops but they are still battling for effective control of the centre of the town.

Although, the source did not give the exact casualty figure in the ongoing attack, it was learnt that the insurgents resisted the troops and the battle was fierce.

The source said, “The Bama battle is the hottest, it is very fiercest because those people put up a resistance…

“The troops have taken over surrounding communities and the battle now is for the centre of the town.

“It is the hope of government that a week before the election, these operations would come to an end. The troops must have finished the business.

“You know, prior to the current operation, the Boko Haram had control of 12 local government areas but now they have been reduced to two, which are Bama and Gwoza.

“We believe that before the end of the week, the story of Bama would be clear; the troops are in high spirit, they are fighting hard and they have weapons.”

Another security source stated that the troop had taken control of over three-quarters of the besieged town.

The source also said that the soldiers had recorded victories over the insurgents in the mission to liberate the town.

The military had launched a ground operation to recapture Bama on Tuesday after days of targeted strafing and aerial surveillance missions by the Nigeria Air Force.

It was learnt that the military authorities used massive personnel and equipment for the tough mission to liberate Bama on Tuesday.

Our correspondent could not get the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, for his comment on the story as calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.