2013 Bama ambush

Last updated
2013 Bama attack
Part of Boko Haram insurgency
DateMay 7, 2013
Location
Bama, Nigeria
Result Boko Haram victory
Belligerents
Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Islamic State flag.svg Boko Haram
Strength
Unknown 200 fighters
18 vehicles
Casualties and losses
38 killed 13 killed
2 POWs
4 civilians killed
105 prisoners freed

On May 7, 2013, Boko Haram militants attacked the town of Bama, Nigeria, killing 38 Nigerian soldiers and freeing over a hundred Boko Haram militants.

Contents

Background

Boko Haram emerged in 2009 as a jihadist social and political movement in a failed rebellion in northeast Nigeria. [1] Throughout the following years, Abubakar Shekau unified militant Islamist groups in the region and continued to foment the rebellion against the Nigerian government, conducting terrorist attacks and bombings in cities and communities across the region. [2] Slightly over a week before the Bama ambush, Nigerian forces defeated Boko Haram militants in Gashua. [3]

Ambush

At 5am on May 7, 200 Boko Haram fighters transported by 18 buses with anti-aircraft weapons and Hiluxes arrived in Bama. [4] The jihadists attacked a military barracks, a police barracks, a prison, a mobile post, a police station, and a clinic. The attack on the army-held barracks was repelled, with about ten attackers killed and two taken prisoner. The Islamists managed to enter the prison, however, where they killed all the guards they encountered and freed 150 prisoners. The fighting at the police barracks was also very deadly, with the building's defenders attacked with grenades and numerous vehicles set on fire. [5] 22 policemen, 14 guards, two soldiers, and four civilians were killed by the attackers. [5] Thirteen militants were killed. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, Andrew (2016-02-04). "Join us or die: the birth of Boko Haram". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  2. ↑ "Nigeria unrest: 'Boko Haram' gunmen kill 44 at mosque". BBC News. 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  3. ↑ "Nigeria : 25 morts dans des violences". Le Figaro (in French). 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
  4. 1 2 "Nigeria : 55 morts lors des attaques de Boko Haram dans l'Etat de Borno - china radio international". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
  5. 1 2 "Nigeria : 55 tués dans des attaques menées par des islamistes dans le nord-est". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
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