It is yet another day for mourning in Borno, the troubled state in Nigeria’s North-East serving as headquarters for Boko Haram insurgents, following yesterday’s bloodbath arising from the group’s latest onslaught.

From all indications, Boko Haram (which roughly translates ‘Western education is a sin’) hates to see any semblance of peace or happiness in the state. The latest brazen attacks came just as Borno people were celebrating the release of elder statesman, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, the 92 years old former Minister of PetroleumResources, who was kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram members on Friday and released on Sunday following public outcry.

The joy that followed Monguno’s release however turned to deep sorrow as the insurgents went on rampage yesterday, raiding Bama town and leaving a sea of blood. Sagir Musa, spokesman of the military Joint Task Force (JTF), confirmed 55 people dead.

The casualties included 22 police officers, 14 prison officials, two soldiers and four civilians, as well as 13 Boko Haram members.

The daring insurgents freed imprisoned 105 prison members during the raid, which began at around 5am and lasted almost five hours, according to Musa. It is unclear why enough reinforcement was not mobilised to appropriately counter the insurgents, who succeeded in burning down Bama’s police station, military barracks and some government buildings.

The latest tragedy puts further pressure on the Boko Haram Amnesty Committee inaugurated late last month by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of his efforts to end the insurgency that has left parts of the North-East largely ungovernable.

Some 4,000 people are believed to have died in the war launched in 2009 by Boko Haram, which seeks to Islamise Africa’s largest country dominated by Christians and Muslims.

•Photo of raided prison courtesy Channels TV.