Bama attack: Boko Haram plans to overrun barracks – Army

The burnt Bama Police Barracks yesterday

As condemnations trail Tuesday’s attack on police, army and prison formations in Bama town, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists which left 55 people dead, the Nigerian Army said, yesterday, that the attack  on the 202 Battalion Barracks, with rocket propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns was aimed at overrunning the barracks and creating mayhem.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, who made the disclosure, however, noted that the attack was successfully repelled.
He gave the actual number of casualty recorded during the attack thus: “those killed in action include 21 Boko Haram terrorists, six Police officers, 14 Prison staff, two soldiers and four civilians, including three children and a woman. They were burnt to death by the insurgents”.

Attahiru added: “there has been heightened insecurity in the North East recently occasioned by unprovoked attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, Marte, Bama and Banki being the most recent. The Nigerian Army successfully repelled attacks on these locations and the situation has been normalized.
“At about 05 10 hours on May 7, 2013, suspected Boko Haram terrorists dressed in military fatigue (Army uniform) attacked 202 Battalion Barracks in Bama with rocket propelled grenades, general purpose machine guns, bombs, 18 seater buses and six Hilux vehicles fitted with anti-aircraft guns.
“The attack was aimed at overrunning the barracks and creating mayhem. It was, however, successfully repelled and the barracks was not in any way breached. The Bama Police Station, Police barracks, local government secretariat, INEC office, local magistrate court and a primary school were burnt by the Boko Haram terrorists.
“About 105 inmates were equally set free from Bama prisons. The items recovered include 4 vehicles, 14 weapons, 12 IED’s, assorted ammunition, several RPG tubes and bombs”.


Quick response groups to patrol major highways
“As part of deliberate efforts to contain activities of the Boko Haram terrorists from spreading, Quick Response Groups have been established to patrol major highways nationwide.
“The QRGs are to provide quick reinforcement of troops to troubled spots. The patrol teams operate along designated routes to check the spate of armed robbery, arms trafficking and kidnapping, as well as any other acts of terrorism. Since its inception, the QRGs have achieved some successes.
“They include reduced banditry along major highways while denying Boko Haram terrorists freedom of action. It has assisted in ensuring military presence along our highways; has denied Boko Haram terrorists and other criminals freedom to convey IED’s and its precursor materials.
“The QRGs have equally improved the Nigerian Army deterrence capability by its constant patrols of designated routes. Additionally, it has equally supported Operation Mesa troops to deal with immediate threats to their respective areas of responsibilities”.

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