From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri
Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi yesterday described his almost five hour close shave with Boko Haram insurgents as traumatic, saying he survived the Wednesday morning attack on his palace by divine intervention and personal security measures.
The first class traditional ruler was sacked from his palace in the early hours of Wednesday by Boko Haram insurgents who unleashed violence on the town, killing about 98 people while part of the palace and many vehicles were burnt. Many shops, commercial centers, houses including a Low Cost Housing Estate, Central Motor Park among others were burnt.
Giving an account of how the insurgents invaded the town, the emir while conducting journalists round the ruins of the town yesterday said the Boko Haram rode into Bama in convoy of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) mostly Hilux vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles at 4a.m. He said the insurgents forced their way into the palace with grenade and explosive devices when it became difficult for them to gain access through the heavily fortified gate, adding that it was then he realised that they (Boko Haram) meant business.
“Somebody called me at 4a.m that he saw some vehicles and motorcycles with many armed men moving into the town through the Goni-Kurmi area (outskirts toward Sambisa Forest). I called (Army) Captain immediately and I was told Boko Haram have entered the town. I started hearing gunshots 30 minutes later and I tried to reach the Brigade Commander (Army) but his lines were not going through. The gunshots and sound from grenade, explosive and other high weapons were coming from different directions but I was still in the palace.
“Later, palace aides told me many women and children were hanging around the four corners of the palace wanting to enter to take refuge. Some minutes later, the insurgents came and drove them away. They attempted to enter the palace through the main gate but when they discovered it was difficult, they fired their RPG and grenade to break the door. They poured diesel on the door leading to the main building but they didn’t succeed. While this was going on, I moved my family and other members of the palace to another area,” he disclosed.
He said the insurgents operated for about one hour while he also was busy plotting his survival and that of his family within the palace premises. “When they couldn’t enter the main building, they also attempted to burn it but their efforts were frustrated. So they decided to burn all the vehicles within the premises and fired shots into the building throughout their stay,” he added.
Asked to disclose how he escaped being killed, Shehu Kyari said he wouldn’t disclose his security measures. “That is personal to me and I hope you wouldn’t want me disclose my personal security measures,” he maintained.
An apparently frustrated royal father, said his people are gradually losing hope in the ability of the federal government to tackle the insurgency which he said has claimed many lives and paralyzed the economy and social life of the people. He maintained the presidency was not been properly briefed on the security situation in the state and the northeast, calling on government to involve the traditional rulers in the area “to end the insurgency once and for all.”
He said the Boko Haram men came with RPGs and other high calibre weapons while the military was using AK 47 to fight back. He claimed the security troops had to retreat when they ran out of bullets even as he commended the military personnel for their gallantry and patriotism.
He also said 34 people were buried shortly after the attack on Monday but added that many residents buried their relations without informing the palace or authority. Residents put the death toll at 57 but Chairman of Youth Volunteers in Bama, Akura Satomi told journalists 98 bodies were recovered from affected areas by his men while the Bama Local government Chairman, Alhaji Baba Shehu Gulumba who also escaped being killed when the Boko Haram stormed his house, said 80 people died.
As at the time of the visit, some dead bodies were still being recovered. The District Head of Goniri Ward, Alhaji Baba Shehu Terab who was reportedly shot in the head by the insurgents later died yesterday afternoon. Prominent government officials and journalists attended his funeral rites in front of his burnt house in Bama yesterday while another corpse was being brought out of the Bama General Hospital at about 3.30pm when journalists visited.
Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, Malam Emit Mohammed Shuwa said the hospital received 48 wounded patients, mainly from gunshots, adding that 17 of the patients later died. “We just remove nine bullets now from the bodies of some patients while 16 people have been referred to Maiduguri hospitals,” Shuwa said.
Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji BabaKaka Garbai said the state governor, Kashim Shettima has constituted a committee to rebuild all burnt structure and released N100 million towards that .He said the Central Market which was rebuilt last year after similar attack by the insurgents will be rebuilt again even as he described the attack as unfortunate and setback.
Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi yesterday described his almost five hour close shave with Boko Haram insurgents as traumatic, saying he survived the Wednesday morning attack on his palace by divine intervention and personal security measures.
The first class traditional ruler was sacked from his palace in the early hours of Wednesday by Boko Haram insurgents who unleashed violence on the town, killing about 98 people while part of the palace and many vehicles were burnt. Many shops, commercial centers, houses including a Low Cost Housing Estate, Central Motor Park among others were burnt.
Giving an account of how the insurgents invaded the town, the emir while conducting journalists round the ruins of the town yesterday said the Boko Haram rode into Bama in convoy of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) mostly Hilux vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles at 4a.m. He said the insurgents forced their way into the palace with grenade and explosive devices when it became difficult for them to gain access through the heavily fortified gate, adding that it was then he realised that they (Boko Haram) meant business.
“Somebody called me at 4a.m that he saw some vehicles and motorcycles with many armed men moving into the town through the Goni-Kurmi area (outskirts toward Sambisa Forest). I called (Army) Captain immediately and I was told Boko Haram have entered the town. I started hearing gunshots 30 minutes later and I tried to reach the Brigade Commander (Army) but his lines were not going through. The gunshots and sound from grenade, explosive and other high weapons were coming from different directions but I was still in the palace.
“Later, palace aides told me many women and children were hanging around the four corners of the palace wanting to enter to take refuge. Some minutes later, the insurgents came and drove them away. They attempted to enter the palace through the main gate but when they discovered it was difficult, they fired their RPG and grenade to break the door. They poured diesel on the door leading to the main building but they didn’t succeed. While this was going on, I moved my family and other members of the palace to another area,” he disclosed.
He said the insurgents operated for about one hour while he also was busy plotting his survival and that of his family within the palace premises. “When they couldn’t enter the main building, they also attempted to burn it but their efforts were frustrated. So they decided to burn all the vehicles within the premises and fired shots into the building throughout their stay,” he added.
Asked to disclose how he escaped being killed, Shehu Kyari said he wouldn’t disclose his security measures. “That is personal to me and I hope you wouldn’t want me disclose my personal security measures,” he maintained.
An apparently frustrated royal father, said his people are gradually losing hope in the ability of the federal government to tackle the insurgency which he said has claimed many lives and paralyzed the economy and social life of the people. He maintained the presidency was not been properly briefed on the security situation in the state and the northeast, calling on government to involve the traditional rulers in the area “to end the insurgency once and for all.”
He said the Boko Haram men came with RPGs and other high calibre weapons while the military was using AK 47 to fight back. He claimed the security troops had to retreat when they ran out of bullets even as he commended the military personnel for their gallantry and patriotism.
He also said 34 people were buried shortly after the attack on Monday but added that many residents buried their relations without informing the palace or authority. Residents put the death toll at 57 but Chairman of Youth Volunteers in Bama, Akura Satomi told journalists 98 bodies were recovered from affected areas by his men while the Bama Local government Chairman, Alhaji Baba Shehu Gulumba who also escaped being killed when the Boko Haram stormed his house, said 80 people died.
As at the time of the visit, some dead bodies were still being recovered. The District Head of Goniri Ward, Alhaji Baba Shehu Terab who was reportedly shot in the head by the insurgents later died yesterday afternoon. Prominent government officials and journalists attended his funeral rites in front of his burnt house in Bama yesterday while another corpse was being brought out of the Bama General Hospital at about 3.30pm when journalists visited.
Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, Malam Emit Mohammed Shuwa said the hospital received 48 wounded patients, mainly from gunshots, adding that 17 of the patients later died. “We just remove nine bullets now from the bodies of some patients while 16 people have been referred to Maiduguri hospitals,” Shuwa said.
Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji BabaKaka Garbai said the state governor, Kashim Shettima has constituted a committee to rebuild all burnt structure and released N100 million towards that .He said the Central Market which was rebuilt last year after similar attack by the insurgents will be rebuilt again even as he described the attack as unfortunate and setback.
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