Four days after Bama was invaded by Boko Haram, with over 55 persons murdered, it still remains a ghost town as there is no movement in and out of it, or even within.
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Many residents of the town stay indoors, while those who summon enough courage to come to the streets will quickly run back to their homes each time security vehicles are sighted.
Markets remain closed and shops in the residential areas are not even selling, making it difficult for people of the town to feed themselves.
Speaking on the situation, the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lt. Col. Adamu Laka said it was unfortunate that the people of the town have imposed a total curfew on themselves.
He said when the situation broke out on Tuesday, the military imposed a curfew on the town, but movement was allowed between 9am and 3pm to allow everyone to make purchases and have a feel of freedom.
According to him, it was however unfortunate that the locals are still afraid of being attacked and have decided to stay indoors.
Laka, who received the visiting team of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the barrack said: “We feel sad that they are afraid to come out. It has made life uncomfortable for everyone, even the rest of us as we have to go to Maiduguri to be able to buy what we need.
Meanwhile the police yesterday revealed that its casualties during the mayhem has risen to 26, 25 policemen, a police woman and two civilian women who were also killed by the insurgents at its barrack in the town.
Thanking the NEMA team led by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Dr. Zanna Mohammed who was sent to the town to supply palliatives to the victims of the attack, the Area Commander of the Police, ACP Sagir Abubakar said the two women who were added up to the casualty figures were house wives of police officers, affirming that an eight year old daughter of one police officer was still missing. Abubakar disclosed that the DPO of the area who was declared missing during the mayhem has been found dead.
He said he was killed during the mayhem by the insurgents and his corpse was dumped by the riverside. He said: “The DPO, DSP Lawrence Eko was found yesterday (Thursday) along the river bank after he was killed by the insurgents.”
He also said the crisis has made many of his men homeless, leaving 321 persons internally displaced without good place to lay their heads.
He however thanked the team from NEMA for the food and other items they provided, pleading that tent should be made available so that the men don’t just continue to sleep in the open.
The Director of Administration and Supplies who represented the DG of NEMA, said tents would be sent immediately to keep the IDPs sheltered, even as he said the materials brought are meant for their immediate need, and that other things would be brought for their convenience.