Boko Haram insurgents seized the city of Bama in Borno State, Nigeria after heavy clashes with government troops, residents claimed on Tuesday.

Umar Dahiru, a Bama resident, said that the city is now controlled by Boko Haram group and not a single soldier remained in the area. More than 400 soldiers along with thousands of civilians escaped from the attack of Boko Haram militants, he added.

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The militants pushed back the government troops and gained control of the town, including the military base, after conducting a pre-dawn attack on troops last Monday, reports said.

Local security official Muhuammed Gava told the media that soldiers repelled the militants’ initial assault but they regrouped and attacked again.

The soldiers on ground repelled the first attack of the militants but they ran out of ammunitions. Although they wanted to end the insurgency, they did not receive immediate reinforcement, the army officer said.

The seizure of Bama happened after the military jet bombarded its own troops, forcing soldiers to flee towards Maiduguri, reports said.

Borno Senator Ahmed Zannah said the aerial bombing wrecked the military barracks and forced the government troops to flee towards Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The intense battle between the Boko Haram and military killed 70 militants and left 30 injured. There was no immediate confirmation yet on casualties for the army, some reports confirmed.

According to some sources, Boko Haram successfully seized Madagali in Adamawa State, Pulka, and other parts of Borno state including Gwoza, which Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau called an Islamic caliphate.

TagsBoko Haram, Nigeria, Takfiri militants