Death toll from Bama attack ‘now 180’

At least 180 people have been killed in Bama, the town in Borno state believed to have been overtaken by Boko Haram.

Spokesman of the ‘Civilian Joint Task Force’, Barrister Jubrin Gunda, who gave the figure while addressing the media on Tuesday in Maiduguri, capital of the state, said 35 of the insurgents who attacked the town had been nabbed.

Senator Ahmed Zannah had told local and foreign media earlier on Tuesday that Boko Haram had taken Bama town, while the soldiers fled. He even said he lost two of family members in the attack.

But Gunda said Zannah’s claims should be disregarded.

“We categorically deny and disassociate ourselves from an interview granted to some foreign media by one Senator Ahmed Zannah as what he stated does not represent the facts on ground,” he said.

“More so, the interview he granted has contributed to stilling fears in the mind of citizens of Borno state and the residents of Maiduguri in particular.

“We want to re-assure the citizens of Borno state that nobody should panic and no one should leave Maiduguri because all that has been said are mere rumours. As such, people should calm down as the Nigerian security forces are capable, willing and competent to discharge their duties.”

He warned members of the public against making “unguarded and false information which will further frighten the citizens unnecessarily”.