The Nigerian Defence spokesman, Chris Olukolade has said that 47 civilians were killed on Wednesday when Boko Haram militants attacked the town of Bama.

The Nigerian Defence spokesman, Chris Olukolade said the army is winning the war against Boko Haram.

“We state authoritatively without any fear or equivocation whatsoever that Nigeria is already winning the war against terror and the activities of the insurgents will be terminated within the shortest possible time’’, he said.

Boko Haram was said to have arrive in the town at dawn and started opening fire on a school, shooting and burning houses including the palace of a traditional ruler but the army arrived on time to engage them.

Many of the militants killed were said to have burn to ashes due to the intensity of the explosive devices they were using.

On Sunday, Boko Haram killed 106 people in the village of Izge according to official figures, making it one of the deadliest attacks so far by Boko Haram.

Official figure also indicates that more than 245 people have been killed this year alone by Boko Haram attacks.

Governor of Bono State, Kashim Shettima called for reinforcements on Monday after the Izge Village attack and said the militants were better armed and better motivated than the security forces.

But the army has insisted that it is on top of the situation and that nobody needs to panic as the army will pursue the militants until they are completely wipe out.

Borno state police commissioner, Lawal Tanko said the militants had burned down the palace of the traditional ruler of Borno, whose kingdom was one of West Africa’s oldest medieval Islamic caliphates.

The US State Department spokesman for Africa, Will Stevens said the senseless targeting of innocent civilians by the militants is unacceptable and urged authorities to bring the militants to book.

“We encourage Nigerian authorities to investigate this heinous act and to hold accountable of those responsible for the attacks”, Mr. Stevens said.

Both the UK and United States have blacklisted Boko Haram as a terrorist organization making their laws and regulatory agencies to block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in 3 northern states last year, and deployed thousands of troops to halt the insurgency, acknowledging that militants had taken control of some towns and villages in the north of the country.

But the president sacked his military high command earlier this year and gave no reasons but political analysts say is because Boko Haram have been able to continue their bloody campaign despite the wide-ranging powers given to the military to tackle the insurgency.

Boko Haram is believed to have carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations since 2009 which have cost an estimate number of over 4,000 lives, saying it wants to establish an Islamic state across Nigeria.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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