Nigerian military feeding the world lies, we are in control of Bama, other towns - Boko Haram spokesperson

The insurgent group, Boko Haram, has said that it is in control of Borno’s second largest town, Bama, and alleged that the military is feeding the world with lies.

Members of the Boko Haram had two weeks ago invaded Bama, killing several people and destroying property, thus forcing residents to flee.

There had been conflicting reports of who was in control of the town between the sect and the Nigerian military.

NE had reported how the military, last week Monday, attacked the insurgents in Bama in an attempt to reclaim the city. The military had tweeted that it was doing “everything necessary” to stop the insurgents from taking control of the city.

However, in a telephone call with journalists in Maiduguri on Monday, a man who claimed to be Abu Zinnira, a long forgotten spokesperson of the Boko Haram, said the sect was in control of Bama.

Abu Zinnira last spoke for the sect two years ago while the call on Monday lasted just 29 seconds and was in Hausa. Journalists were unable to authenticate if he was indeed the Abu Zinnira who used to speak for the sect.

“This is a rebuttal from the information dissemination and sensitization unit of the Jamaatul Ahlil Sunna Lidawati Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) on the series of lies that the Nigeria military have been feeding the world on our recent conquests,” the ‘spokesperson’ said, while also speaking on the sect’s capture of some towns in Adamawa State.

“Let the whole world know that we are on the path of victory because up to this minute, the town of Bama is under our control, the whole of Minchika is now in our hands, as well as Manalapan (Junction of) Mubi is now fully under our control.

“We are assuring the world that this would be continuous and there will be no going back by God’s grace. This is a message from me Abu Zinnira, on behalf of our brethren,” he said.

On Saturday, the Adamawa State government also confirmed that the sect had taken over Gulak, another town in Adamawa State.

“It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had killed and displaced scores of people.

“On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, his Excellency deeply sympathises with the people of Gulak and other surrounding villages and towns whose areas had been overran by insurgents,” the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Liman Tukur, said in a statement.
The violent activities of the Boko Haram have continued despite a state of emergency imposed on Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe since May last year.

The Islamic militant group, Boko Haram in a desperate aim to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria are invading different towns in the North-East, and also analysts predict that Maiduguri, a major town in Northern Nigeria is the next target.