Investigations revealed that the military authorities had sent fighter jets during hours of fierce fighting between troops and the insurgents early on Tuesday.
A security source said that the military leadership in the North-East had made preparation for the strafing of the town by telling all the civilians and even military personnel to relocate from the vicinity of areas under the control of the insurgents.
It was learnt that some security personnel and civilians who obeyed the advice were being quartered at Sectors 8 and 9 in Maiduguri.
It was further gathered that the intensity of air attacks on the insurgents aided the soldiers in pushing them out of Bama.
As of the time of filing this report, the insurgents were said to be massing on the outskirts of Bama apparently to carry out another assault on the town.
The security source said that Monday’s attack by the insurgents was coordinated from Gwoza, which the insurgents captured last week.
The security source said that soldiers and the insurgents were still engaged in a gun duel over the control of the town even though the troops had been able to push them out of the town.
However, there were fears in Maiduguri as some residents said it was time for them to start planning relocating from the town.
One of them , Sunday Emmanuel, said his apprehension was based on the news filtering through Bama and the influx of people from the town into Maiduguri.
He said, ‘‘There is everything to believe that the insurgents are closing in on Maiduguri with the capture of Damboa, Gwoza and now the attack on Bama.” (Punch)
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