stormed military barracks in Borno in the early hours
of December 20, 2013, Friday.
The army and residents confirmed that the attackers sprayed
spraying gunfire on the troops inside before torching the
compound. The military has reportedly initiated pursuit of
the insurgets.
Mohammed Dole, the Army spokesperson in Borno state,
confirmed the attack on the military barracks in the town of
Bama.
However, he did not confirm the claims of several Bama residents, who said dozens, or perhaps even hundreds, of insurgents armed with assault rifles, explosives and rocket-
propelled-grenades swarmed the barracks in a convoy of 4×4 trucks.
Bama resident Abdullahi Idris told the newsmen that the assault started at around three in the morning with huge
explosions and the cracking of gunfire.
"Later we saw plumes of smoke and fire from the
barracks," the resident said.
According to Idris and other residents, military jets flew
over the town after the attack.
The nearest air force base is in Borno's capital Maiduguri,
roughly 70 kilometres from Bama.
Another resident, a member of vigilante group, who spoke
with reporters on conditions of anonymity, said a large
section of the barracks had been destroyed by fire. He further added that fighter jets allegedly dropped bombs on the attackers, forcing them to flee.
Neither residents nor Army spokesperson commented on
the estimate number of casualties.
It would be noted that defence officials have claimed Boko
Haram is now only capable of attacking soft targets, but
Friday's raid in Bama, which came after a December 2
assault on the army and air force in Maiduguri, indicates
the insurgents are still capable of daring offensives.
Via: Vanguard
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