Some of the people who escaped the latest
Boko Haram attack on Bama, Borno State, have narrated their experience,
describing it as painful.
When our correspondent visited the
National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in the heart of the
troubled city, many of the victims were seen queuing to collect
blankets, sleeping mats and other relief items.
One of them, Mallam Bukar Gana, shared near-death experience with Saturday PUNCH.
Gana said, “We suffered a lot in the
process of escaping from Bama and we had to trek several kilometers to
reach Maiduguri. The journey took an entire day and night. I got to
Maiduguri the following day. I have seven children but I was able to
escape with only two. Right now, I do not know the whereabouts of the
rest of my children and their mother.
“Though they provide food for us at the
camp, I have not been able to eat like several other people here because
we are presently suffering psychological trauma. We are concerned about
the fate of the rest of our families and friends whom we are still
searching for and do not know whether they are trapped in Bama or have
been killed.”
Recalling the moment the town came under
the terrorists’ attack, he said the heavy sound of gunshots and mortars
almost drove them out of their skins.
“We heard deafening gunshots and it was
as if the heaven was about falling on us. We could no longer stay
indoors, we were afraid the danger was going to swallow us up. But
miraculously we found the courage to run and escape in any direction
available just to get to Maiduguri where we feel we could be a lot
safer,” Gana said.
[/media-credit] Some of the displaced persons from Bama at the NYSC Camp, Maiduguri… on Thursday
Tijjani Mamman, 25, is another victim. He
is yet to get over the shock of the latest attack on the town by the
insurgents as he told Saturday PUNCH that he is lucky to be alive.
Mamman said, “We initially thought the
insurgents were soldiers deployed in Bama barracks because they were
fully kitted in military camouflage and vehicles. When they reached the
barracks, they started shooting sporadically to scare the military men
away and when we saw this we knew the town was in danger. We had to run
into the bush to save our lives.
“We had to trek from Bama to Kawuri
before we were able to board a vehicle to Maiduguri. As we speak, I do
not know what might have happened to my parents back in Bama. I am only
praying and hoping that they are safe wherever they are right now,” he
said.
A 42-year-old woman, Kellu Kachallah,
also had bitter tales to tell. She said that even in Maiduguri she does
not feel safe with her children.
Kachallah said, “We passed through hell getting out of the town with our children.
“It was hectic especially trekking all
the way to Kawuri for several hours with little children before finally
squeezing ourselves with others in a vehicle to Maiduguri. As I am
talking to you, I am still feeling pains all over my body as a result of
all we went through these past few days.
“I do not pray to see what I saw in Bama
in my life time again. The terrorists came in hundreds with
sophisticated weapons and started shooting in every direction. They
succeeded in scaring the security men away before taking their weapons.
It was like a war scene. I still cannot believe I am alive and truly
escaped from that place.”
