Bama, a border town with Cameroon and 78 kilometres east of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been taken over by Boko Haram insurgents less than 24 hours after the Nigerian military celebrated a major victory repelling the militants

This will be the second town in the state that the insurgents would be taking over, the other being Gwoza.

Residents, including women and children, were on Tuesday seen in their numbers trooping to Maiduguri, the state capital, for safety as the insurgents remobilised and stormed the town early in the morning.

Witnesses said after the initial military intervention in repelling the attack, the sect members regrouped and launched a successful attack on the town which is presently under their control.

Report says the insurgents also launched an attack on Mongonu town which also has a military barracks like that of Bama.

Interestingly, Bama fell to the insurgents on a day that the Borno State government issued a statement insisting that the town was under the full control of Nigerian troops.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Zannah Umar Mustapha, on Tuesday said Bama had not fallen into the hands of Boko Haram terrorist group, insisting that the military was in full control of the security situation in the town.

Mustapha who spoke at a press briefing on the situation in Bama and and general state of insecurity in various parts of the state said that Monday’s attack on Bama left over 2, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who ran to Maiduguri but are now being been housed at National Youths Service, NYSC, orientation camp and Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Maiduguri.

“The attack on Bama town yesterday (Monday) was very unfortunate, but I want reassure our people that government is on top of the situation. Already, those in the camp are being taken care of and our security forces are engaging the insurgents in a fierce battle which is worthy of commendation,” had Mustapha said.

There have been no reaction from the military or Borno State government since Tuesday’s takeover of the town.