BREAKING: Boko Haram Still Control Nigeria's Bama, Local Leaders Insist
Residents of Nigeria's northeastern town of Bama on Thursday refuted claims that the army had reclaimed the town from Boko Haram militan...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2014/09/breaking-boko-haram-still-control.html
Residents of Nigeria's northeastern town of Bama on Thursday refuted claims that the army had reclaimed the town from Boko Haram militants who captured it early last week.
"Boko Haram is still in full control of Bama," Mohamed Hassan, chairman of the Bama Development Foundation, an umbrella body for all Bama people, told a press conference in Maiduguri, Borno State's provincial capital.
"We have reached out to some of our people that are still hiding in villages near Bama and they have been telling us that Boko Haram is still there," he said.
"They can see them [Boko Haram militants] moving within and outside the town, but no one can move or come out," added Hassan, who was accompanied by foundation head Kachallah Grema Kyari and other town residents.
He said the militants were freely shuttling between the towns of Bama and Gwoza.
"Everything the military has been telling the public isn't true," claimed Hassan.
"The military has not been going to or coming out of Bama town because the insurgents have taken it over," he said.
Hassan said most of the townspeople still trapped in Bama lacked access to food and water.
"Some are critically sick in their homes and can't come out to access the government hospital or clinic," he added. "And all the shops have been vandalized by the insurgents."
Elders in Borno State warned earlier today that Boko Haram militants had "completely surrounded" Maiduguri.
The militants have already overrun the towns of Buni Yadi and Bara in neighboring Yobe State.
The group is also said to have captured eight towns in Adamawa State, which has a population of some 2.5 million.
Boko Haram's elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau, recently declared all territories under the group's control to be part of an "Islamic caliphate" in northern Nigeria.
Since May of last year, all three states – Borno, Yobe and Adamawa – have remained under a state of emergency imposed by the government with the stated aim of curbing the menace posed by Boko Haram.
Source: Turkish Weekly
"We have reached out to some of our people that are still hiding in villages near Bama and they have been telling us that Boko Haram is still there," he said.
"They can see them [Boko Haram militants] moving within and outside the town, but no one can move or come out," added Hassan, who was accompanied by foundation head Kachallah Grema Kyari and other town residents.
He said the militants were freely shuttling between the towns of Bama and Gwoza.
"Everything the military has been telling the public isn't true," claimed Hassan.
"The military has not been going to or coming out of Bama town because the insurgents have taken it over," he said.
Hassan said most of the townspeople still trapped in Bama lacked access to food and water.
"Some are critically sick in their homes and can't come out to access the government hospital or clinic," he added. "And all the shops have been vandalized by the insurgents."
Elders in Borno State warned earlier today that Boko Haram militants had "completely surrounded" Maiduguri.
The militants have already overrun the towns of Buni Yadi and Bara in neighboring Yobe State.
The group is also said to have captured eight towns in Adamawa State, which has a population of some 2.5 million.
Boko Haram's elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau, recently declared all territories under the group's control to be part of an "Islamic caliphate" in northern Nigeria.
Since May of last year, all three states – Borno, Yobe and Adamawa – have remained under a state of emergency imposed by the government with the stated aim of curbing the menace posed by Boko Haram.
Source: Turkish Weekly
Please who is really in control of Bama? Goodluck Jonathan should not lead Nigeria into another Civil war oh...
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