9 Days Later; Bodies Still Litter The Streets From Boko Haram's Deadliest Massacre

(CNN) - The attackers sped into the Nigerian town with grenade launchers - their gunfire and explosions shattering the early morning calm. As terrified residents scattered into bushes in Baga town and surrounding villages, the gunmen unloaded motorcycles from their trucks and chased after them. Residents hid under scant brush as bullets pierced through them. Some sought refuge in their homes, but they were burned alive.

Many who tried to cross into neighbouring Chad drowned while trying to swim through Lake Chad. By the time the weapons went quiet, local officials reported death tolls ranging from hundreds to as many as 2,000 people.

That was January 3, nine days ago, but on Monday, bodies still littered the bushes in the area. "It is still not safe to go and pick them up for burial," said Musa Bukar, the chairman of the local government where Baga is located.

No emergency crews will enter the villages where militants are still running amok, local authorities said. "Baga is not accessible because it is still occupied by Boko Haram," said Sen. Maina Ma'aji Lawan of northern Borno state.

Mike Omeri, a national security spokesman, said Nigerian troops are pursuing the militants. ‎"Security forces have responded rapidly and have deployed significant military assets and conducted airstrikes against militant targets," Omeri said. "Troops are engaged in operations to reclaim the area from the terrorists."

But Gamandi, the Baga native, said it's not true. "From information we are receiving from residents nearby, not a single Nigerian soldier has shown up in Baga since it was seized by Boko Haram," he said. "It is all propaganda."

Source: CNN.com