Suspected Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday attacked a police
base in Bama, a town close to the Camerounian border that has been hit
frequently by violence in recent months.
“Troops have successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorist
attacks on a police base in Bama on 4 August,” Musa said.
He said one policeman and 17 members of Boko Haram were
killed during the fighting, while two soldiers were injured.
Boko Haram members also attacked a military base in the
town of Malam Fatori, triggering a gun battle that left two soldiers and 15 of
its members dead, Musa said.
He added that during the Bama incident, “troops recovered
the following items: four Toyota Hilux vehicles, 10 AK 47 rifles, two G3
rifles, 10 X 40 mm bombs, three RPG tubes, 85 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, an
improvised explosive device, three motorcycles, 10 AK47 rifle magazines and a
G3 magazine, among others”.
Musa, who said the situation in both towns had been
brought under control, urged the public to continue to assist the security
agencies with timely and credible information to flush out the terrorists.
Since Boko Haram insurgents were displaced from their
Sambisa forest reserve camp and within the state capital, Maiduguri, they have
invaded many local government areas of the state, including Kukawa, Abadam,
Biu, Kaga, Damboa, Mafa and Marte, where there is less security presence
relative to Maiduguri.
In response to the menace of the terrorists, civilian
vigilantes have sprung up to help Nigerian forces identify and arrest Boko
Haram members but there are concerns among some North-east residents and
security experts that the spread of vigilantes could further lead to a
breakdown of law and order.
Five people died in clashes on Sunday between two such
vigilante groups over the control of the town of Biu in Borno State, witness
Suleiman Barka told Reuters by phone.
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