High casualty figure as Boko Haram attacks Borno military barracks

A source in Bama, Borno State has described the casualty figure in Friday’s attack on the Barracks  in the town as “rather high.”
Mostly affected in the attack, which was carried out in the early hours of Friday, were women and children.
The source said: “From my estimation, now fewer that 100 persons must have died in that attack.
“It was rather frightening.”
Bama has come under several attacks by the dreaded sect since the beginning of 2013.
A terse statement on Friday by the military failed to disclose the casualty figure.
Rather, the statement, signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the casualty figure would only be released after the military must have concluded its cordon and search operation for the fleeing Boko Haram members.
Olukolade said the military, using both the land and air, responded to the attack by the sect on Friday.
The statement by Olukolade reads: “Bama Barracks in Borno State was in the early hours of today (Friday) attacked by terrorists who came from cells located across Nigerian Border with Cameroun through Banki town.  High caliber weapons such as anti-aircraft and rocket propelled guns were freely used in the attack that lasted several hours.
“Ground troops backed by the Air Force have repelled the attack and are in pursuit of the insurgents. Details of casualties recorded in the incident will be released when the ongoing cordon and search operations in the general area is concluded.
“Meanwhile, reinforcement has been dispatched to enhance the operation in pursuit of the terrorists. Normalcy is being been restored in the barracks and the surrounding communities properly secured.”

theeagleonline.com.