location: Bama
notes: Boko Haram members reportedly took over Bama town - the second largest town in the state - and hoisted the sects flag, following a gun battle between they and Nigerian soldiers. 'Scores' killed before soldiers fled the city alongside civilians - thousands displaced. Military sources who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri said the soldiers were able to kill about 70 of the militants and injure about 30 others. Some reports have the death total as high as 130. The number of soldiers and civilians killed are not known. Despite several sources reporting the fall a Bama to Boko Haram, Xinhua and This Day (Lagos) reports the military repelled the attack, the latter describing the battle as Boko Harams 'Waterloo.' It is possible Boko Haram retreated, regrouped, and attacked again. A military airstrike was involved in the battle.
target_text: location: Bama, fatalities: 70