Nigerian Army Repels Boko Haram Attack On Bama

The Nigerian army says it has repelled an attack by Islamist militants Boko Haram on the village of Bama in the country's north-east. 

Official sources say the rebels tried to capture the town on Monday but soldiers stationed near the mobile police unit were able to repel them. 

Unconfirmed report says dozens of fighters were killed during the attempted raid. 

Boko Haram recently announced it had established an Islamic state in the towns and villages it controls in north-eastern Nigeria. 

The town of Bama is 70 kilometres from the capital of Borno state in Maiduguri. 

Many residents are reported to have fled the town because of the fighting. 

The group's five-year insurgency has intensified in recent months despite the deployment of thousands of extra troops to the worst-affected areas. 

GBC