Many wives and children of military men were among the booty taken away by Boko Haram militants who attacked the Nuhu Muhammed Barracks in Bama, Borno State, on Friday, it has been revealed.

A report published yesterday by the Associated French Press (AFP) said that an unknown number of soldiers’ wives and children were taken away by the Boko Haram fighters who attacked the military barracks around 2:30 a.m. The daring raid on the barracks located in the border town with Cameroon lasted for about three hours.

Unconfirmed reports said that about 13 soldiers, 18 women and children and about 100 Boko Haram sect members were killed during the attack.

As at yesterday, the embarrassed military, according to AFP, had surrounded the village of Abbaram, near Bama, where they thought the Boko Haram fighters are holding their captives.

“The soldiers have besieged the village and more troops are deploying in hundreds,” said one local, Ibrahim Idris. “Nothing is happening yet but from the huge number of troops deploying and the large number of Boko Haram in the village one can imagine what may happen,” he added.

Military spokesman Mohammed Dole, did not comment on the report. Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade could not be reached for comment, the report said.

•Photo shows damage by Boko Haram fighters during a previous operation in Borno State.