Civilians, soldiers flee as Boko Haram takes over Baga

CREDITS: PREMIUM TIMES

Baga, a town that has suffered several attacks from the Boko Haram in the past two years, fell to insurgents who overpowered soldiers of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, and wrecked havoc on residents and property on Saturday, witnesses, a lawmaker, and security officials have said.

Many resident of Baga, a fishing community in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, who were lucky to escape the attack are now taking refuge in Chad Republic. Some, who could not swim through the lake, or get on canoes, reportedly drowned.

Some of the fleeing residents, who managed to call their relatives in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, using Chadian phones, said many women, children and aged ones who couldn’t get canoes and boats to escape, died in the rivers.

Witnesses said the attackers arrived on several four-wheel trucks and motorcycles and used high caliber rifles and explosives to attack both soldiers and civilians.

There have been several cases of soldiers fleeing battle or refusing to go fight the Boko Haram insurgents who are believed to be better motivated and armed than the military. 

Many of the fleeing soldiers have accused the military hierarchy of refusing to provide adequate arms and ammunition to fight the insurgents.

The military has since condemned such acts and has sentenced dozens of Nigerian soldiers to death for various offences like mutiny, disobedience of orders, and so on. ...PremiumTimes