Militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group have hoisted their flag in a Nigerian town after seizing control of it, three residents have told the BBC.

Hundreds of people have fled the fishing town of Baga after the militants overran it on Wednesday night, the residents said.

The militants seized weapons from a military base, and torched a naval base on the shores of Lake Chad, they said.

The military denied Baga had fallen, saying the attack had been repelled.

But PRNigeria, an agency well-connected with the military, quoted an intelligence officer as saying that troops had made a "tactical withdrawal" from their base after coming under attack.

"The Nigerian Air Force in response to distress call quickly mobilised military aircraft and flew over 20 sorties [on] Wednesday night and throughout Thursday," it quoted the unnamed officer as saying.

A resident, who spoke to the BBC after he fled Baga, said a militant led the morning prayer on Thursday at his mosque in the town.

Other armed militants were present at the mosque, and prayed there too, the resident said.

The militants told the congregation that civilians would not be targeted and were free to leave the town, he added.

The fighters identified themselves as being members of the Islamic State's West Africa Province (Iswap), an IS affiliate which has distanced itself from Boko Haram, the main insurgent group in north-eastern Nigeria.

The militants had captured heavy armoured tanks, boats and a large cache of weapons during the raid on the military and naval bases, other residents said.


The military base was the local headquarters of the multinational task force, which includes troops from neighbouring states fighting the militants, the residents added.

Some troops fled with civilians, as the militants stormed the town, in north-eastern Borno state, on Wednesday night, the residents said.

In a statement on Thursday, Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman confirmed the attack on the military base but said the militants had been pushed back after troops put up a "determined fight".

"Similarly, a search and rescue team has been constituted. The Nigerian Air Force component has also been mobilised and are engaging the fleeing terrorists. Unfortunately, a naval personnel was killed in action," he added.


January 2015, Boko Haram took control of the town after killing hundreds of residents and forcing thousands to flee.

Baga - and most other territory seized by the militants - was later retaken by the army.


Some analysts fear there will be an escalation of attacks by the militants in the run-up to elections next year.

President Muhammdu Buhari, who is seeking a second term, took office in 2015 with a promise to defeat the militants.

At the launch of his re-election campaign on Friday in the southern city of Uyo, he said the militants had lost much territory since he took office.

"We are going to eventually clear them out of the country," he said, without referring to the ongoing fighting in Baga.

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it:

Islamic State-linked terrorists 'seize Nigeria's Baga town' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-46705837

Photo

They're not militants, they are Terrorist
Hopefully Nigerians will vote wisely and not think with our stomachs.
Will the peanuts you receive during elections last you for the tenure of said politicians? If no, then...

Cc: LZAA dainformant

Buhary has given them both ammunitions and money. As well as releasing some of the finest terrorists ever captured.

If Buhary wins 2019, nigeria would be Boko haram republic. Nigeria's army would be Boko haram Python dancers.

Mark my words.

BlacSmit:
Cc: LZAA dainformant

Buhary has given them both ammunitions and money. As well as releasing some of the finest terrorists ever captured.

If Buhary wins 2019, nigeria would be Boko haram republic. Nigeria's army would be Boko haram Python dancers.

Mark my words.

Whether Buhari wins or not, Nigeria has hit rock bottom and started digging!

fake news everywhere

And yet some demented fellows will still be screaming "sai baba 2019!!"
Belive me or not, i was in A'ibom. The people literally walked out on PMB while still delivering his non-audible sham of a speech.
Only God'll save us from the hands of that cold blooded murder of a President!

Why then is Nigerian Army lying about the situation and risking the lives of our gallant troops on the field. This people need to leave politics and start facing these monsters BHT, rather than trying to launder GMB's image for him to stand a chance in 2019

Believe Buhari Army at your peril...


It's all over the place... BBC and CNN etc
Boko Haram has taken Baga


Vote out lifelessness... Today is Baga
Tomorrow it might be Oshogbo

Nigeria is a failed state

On dis thread, i am proudly a member of CRAN.

I thought the NA have denied this, so SR was saying the truth.
As usual Buhari is not aware.

Nigerians have a boko haram sympathiser as President but are still under a grave illusion that the same clown who has demonstrated inability or unwillingness to battle islamist terrorists like fulani herdsmen will come to their aid.

Use your head.

Meanwhile Buhari and his SW supporters wants Buhari for another 4yrs so that he will hand over to them.

Pray that you will be alive for another for yrs.

For how long does the Nigerian military intend to keep pretending that all is well in the North east. This is the era of smart phones and social media, you can't hide the truth for long.

chai....if its true,retreat and restrategize....i knew this would happen sooner or later....

the war is not over....

nigeria is at war....lying to ourselves will not change anything....

retreat....!!!

if we could just level the ol place with artillerie,things would be easier....

Tenison96:
They're not militants, they are Terrorist
Hopefully Nigerians will vote wisely and not think with our stomachs.
Will the peanuts you receive during elections last you for the tenure of said politicians? If no, then...

stfu...the situation was much worser under jonathan....

this war is long not over....but we will beat them eventualy....

we defeated biafra,and we shall defeat others too.....

NNAMDI KANU prophesied such few weeks back.
I saw the news on AL-JAZEERA WORLDWIDE

EVILFOREST:
NNAMDI KANU prophesied such few weeks back.
I saw the news on AL-JAZEERA WORLDWIDE

you too...stfu.....you should be arrested for sidin with terrorists....

God will help us

Tenison96:
They're not militants, they are Terrorist
Hopefully Nigerians will vote wisely and not think with our stomachs.
Will the peanuts you receive during elections last you for the tenure of said politicians? If no, then...

The BBC is trying to portray BH as a rebel force of aggrieved civilians..

This is inline with how Ohama declassified the Taliban in Afghanistan from a terrorist organization to an armed insurgency.

Borno will still produce millions of votes for barber.
Sai barber

bantudra:


stfu...the situation was much worser under jonathan....

How was it worse?Jonathan cleared BHT and even conducted elections in those places in 2015.

No wonder our police officers turned to usman bolt,

bantudra:
this war is long not over....but we will beat them eventualy....

we defeated biafra,and we shall defeat others too.....

pray that you Don't get caught in the streets and forcefully conscripted to fight BH.