Boko Haram Islamists have set fire to homes in Nigeria’s northeast town of Bama that are under their control, forcing residents to flee as troops advance to recapture it, witnesses said Sunday.

The Islamists on Saturday told residents of Bama, 70 kilometres (37.5 miles) southeast of Maiduguri, to evacuate before setting fire to many homes as Nigerian troops inched closer in a bid to retake the town, residents told AFP.

The blaze forced hundreds of residents to flee towards Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, the group’s hometown and stronghold. “They came into the town around 12:00 pm (1100 GMT) warning that anyone who wanted to leave should leave the town and soon after they began torching homes,” resident ?Umar Kaka said.

“Not all residents could leave because some are too sick or old to leave and we are afraid they were burnt in the homes?,” Kaka said.

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