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Nigeria says it has ousted Boko Haram from town of Bama | Nigeria says it has ousted Boko Haram from town of Bama |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Nigeria's military says it has retaken the north-eastern town of Bama from the Islamist military group Boko Haram. | Nigeria's military says it has retaken the north-eastern town of Bama from the Islamist military group Boko Haram. |
A large number of militants were killed and a "mopping up" operation is continuing in the second largest town in Borno state, it said. | A large number of militants were killed and a "mopping up" operation is continuing in the second largest town in Borno state, it said. |
Boko Haram was reportedly also ousted from Goniri, its last base in neighbouring Yobe state. | Boko Haram was reportedly also ousted from Goniri, its last base in neighbouring Yobe state. |
The group recently swore allegiance to the Islamic State militants based in Syria and Iraq. | |
The violence in Nigeria has killed more than 13,000 people since 2009. | |
The conflict has since spread to neighbouring countries, including Chad and Cameroon. | The conflict has since spread to neighbouring countries, including Chad and Cameroon. |
Ongoing offensive | Ongoing offensive |
Nigeria's military spokesman Gen Chris Olukolade said the militants had suffered "massive" casualties, AFP news agency reports. | |
Bama is significant as it is close to the state capital Maiduguri and has witnessed some of the worst violence during this insurgency, the BBC's Will Ross reports from Lagos. | Bama is significant as it is close to the state capital Maiduguri and has witnessed some of the worst violence during this insurgency, the BBC's Will Ross reports from Lagos. |
The town was attacked several times by the jihadists before they captured it six months ago, our correspondent says. | |
The military said those jihadists who fled Bama headed for the border with Chad and it had requested the Chadian army to pursue them. | |
In a separate development, Gen Olukolade tweeted to say Goniri had been regained on Monday. | In a separate development, Gen Olukolade tweeted to say Goniri had been regained on Monday. |
Nigeria and several of its neighbours recently launched an offensive against the militants. | Nigeria and several of its neighbours recently launched an offensive against the militants. |
Officials say Boko Haram no longer controls any urban centres in Yobe and Adamawa - two out of the three worst-affected states in the north-east. | |
Gen Olukolade also pledged that Borno, the birthplace of Boko Haram, would soon be freed. | |
Boko Haram at a glance: | Boko Haram at a glance: |
What Boko Haram left behind in Baga | What Boko Haram left behind in Baga |
Why is Boko Haram so strong? | Why is Boko Haram so strong? |
IS shaping Boko Haram media | IS shaping Boko Haram media |