Nigeria Army Bombs Boko Haram Camps in Bauchi

Just few days after we published a Daily Trust report that the Boko Haram sect has opened new frontiers in Bauchi and Jigawa state, recruiting memberswith the aim of extending its operations and wrecking havoc on the people, the Nigeria army has moved in to tackle the insurgents in Bauchi.

The Army, on Thursday, was reported to have bombed some of the Boko Haram camps located in some parts of Bauchi State.

There has been an upsurge in the activities of unknown gunmen believed in some quarters to be insurgents in the state in recent times, with series of kidnappings, particularly in the Darazo axis of the state.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Samaila Ahmed, was kidnapped in his resident in Darazo, the headquarters of Darazo Local Government area of the state, while three polio workers were also kidnapped in the area.

The recent activities of gunmen in the state culminated in the burning down of some buildings at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Yana, the headquarters of Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State, in which a five-year-old girl was burnt to death about a month ago.

Only Wednesday last week, some gunmen went on the rampage, burning down two primary schools in Darazo Local Government Area of the state, Shadarki Primary School and Yelwan Darazo Primary School respectively and an MTN telecommunications mast, though no life was lost in the attack.

A sizeable number of gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect had been operating in the Balmo forests in Darazo, Burra in Ningi Local Government Area, Soro in Ganjuwa Local Government Area and Yuga forests between Zara-Miya, while another camp was believed to exist around the Bauchi –Gombe border in Alkaleri.

It was gathered from locals in the areas and security sources that the army invaded the camps and bombed them, with a view to dislodging insurgents camped there.

It was further learnt from the locals that as early as 6.00 a.m., they started hearing loud sounds of explosives from the direction of the forest, where the insurgents camps were reportedly located.

They further informed that shortly after the sound of the explosions went down, they saw a military aircraft with Nigerian flag hovering over the areas.

A reliable security source in the state confirmed that the army had started operation in the forest, but did not give details, adding, however, that the exercise was carried out without creating panic among the inhabitants of the areas.