Gunmen launch fresh attack on police barracks in Borno, chanting Allahu Akbar

Barely a week after the military, police and prison formations in Bama, Borno State were attacked by Boko Haram gunmen, police barracks in the outskirts of the township were attacked by the terror suspects with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, and petrol bombs in the early hours of monday.


An anonymous female resident of the barracks said in a telephone chat: “The gunmen came on motorcycles and tricycles at about 3 a.m. and started chanting Allahu Akbar (God is great), before detonating the bombs that triggered the burning of these houses. We had to flee in the night.

“Through the window of  one of the houses, a gunman shouted that the policemen and their wives and children should leave the town immediately.

“Five minutes later, I heard three blasts at the east flank of the barracks, before soldiers rushed to the scene and repelled them, making them to escape towards Mubi road and College of Education, Bama.”

She also told newsmen that none of the residents of the Police barracks was killed or injured, because when they started torching some of the houses, the women and children were forced to run to adjacent buildings for safety before armed military personnel  swung into action.

Speaking on how they get their food and water supplies, as Bama has been shut by soldiers of 202 Tank Battalion, she said: “We ran out of food and water two days ago. The only food we have for children are the two loaves of bread purchased from a backyard shop at N450 a loaf. While a four-liter jerry can of water cost us N100 as against N15.

“Since Tuesday, we could not go out to neither school nor market, because the soldiers and policemen patrolling the streets of Bama, do not allow any movement, unless one is on a special duty or is a security agent.”

It was also learnt that motorists and commuters travelling to Gwoza, Michika, Mubi and Maiduguri, were however asked by soldiers to turn back, as Bama had been shut down to both residents and travellers.

Spokesman of Borno state Police Command, Gideon Jibrin, also confirmed yesterday’s torching of Bama police barracks, adding that none of the gunmen was arrested, as the armed hoodlums fled towards Mubi road by 4am.

Source: Niajapals