Nigerian military commanders claim their troops have recaptured the town of Bama in Borno State and halted Boko Haram's planned advance on the state capital Maiduguri killing 50 insurgents in the process to augment the 100 shot by Cameroonian soldiers.
Over the last two weeks, Boko Haram enjoyed unprecedented military success, capturing large swathes of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe State. Having captured 13 local governments in total and about half of Borno State, the insurgents were confident of advancing on the state capital Maiduguri.
In response, the Nigerian Army launched a counter-offensive and according to military commanders, 50 Boko Haram fighters were killed in a raid on their hideout in the small north-eastern town of Kawuri.
Cameroon's government said its soldiers had also killed more than 100 Boko Haram fighters during an attempted incursion by the Islamist insurgents into its territory. One senior military officer said:
“Bama has been recaptured by the soldiers and I can confirm to you Maiduguri is safe. Over 50 terrorists died on Sunday afternoon as troops raided their hideout in Kawuri before setting out on a planned attack on Konduga. “One fabricated artillery gun, two anti-aircraft gun, an armoured vehicle and assorted types of ammunition were captured in the process.
Some hardware, weapons, food items and personal belongings were also destroyed in the raid, although one officer and two soldiers were seriously wounded.” He added that government
warplanes have bombed and strafed the militants after they stormed Bama last week.
According to the officer, Maiduguri is now safe following the capture of Bama to its southeast, which Boko Haram planned to use as a launching pad. On addition, Cameroonian government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said the country's army has dealt Boko Haram a severe setback after clashes took place in the north of the country over the weekend
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