The Nigerian Red Cross Society and other rescue workers yesterday struggled to reach the remote town of Baga in Borno State where the military was restricting access after fierce clashes that killed 187 people, as the State Governor, Kashim Shettima, ordered a massive relief effort following the ‘barbaric’ violence.

The bloodshed in Baga on Lake Chad in Borno could mark the deadliest episode in the insurgency of Boko Haram, the radical Islamist group blamed for scores of attacks since 2009.

Gun battles between troops and Islamist fighters caused a “barbaric destruction of lives and properties,” Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said in a statement.

Baga residents have accused the military of firing indiscriminately on civilians and setting fire to much of the fishing town.

In addition to the 187 people killed, 77 others were injured while more than 300 homes were destroyed, according to the Red Cross.

The military has disputed those figures, while President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a probe into reports of widespread civilian deaths.

Red Cross disaster management coordinator, Umar Abdul Mairiga, told newsmen that relief workers had struggled to reach Baga because the military had not been able to guarantee their safety amid continuing tension.

“Now, they have given us permission to move,” he said, adding that a full team was expected to deploy early Wednesday.

Much of the town remains deserted after the fighting on Friday, which forced thousands of people to flee, saying that a resident who asked that his name be withheld.

“Baga is still under military siege,” he said. “The town is at a standstill with little food and water, which has forced even those of us that stayed behind to start leaving.”

The governor, who toured Baga on Sunday, called for emergency funds to rebuild the destroyed homes as well as the immediate provision of food and clothes to the survivors.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement he was “shocked and saddened at the reports of high numbers of civilians killed”.

Washington also condemned the violence and the deaths of many civilians.

The details of the alleged military atrocities in Baga are still emerging, but it could mark a major setback in Nigeria’s effort to end the insurgency.

Baga’s location near Chad and Niger is problematic for Nigeria’s security forces as people from all three countries move freely through porous borders, said Shehu Sani, an expert on religious violence in Nigeria.

The security forces struggle to identify the insurgent and criminal groups migrating in the region, a confusing and lawless environment that has led to the reckless targeting of innocent civilians, said Sani.

A multi-national security force involving Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria is officially responsible for the border region, including Baga.

There have been conflicting reports as to whether any foreign soldiers were involved in the violence on Friday, but the area commander, Brigadier General Austin Edokpaye is a Nigerian.

Meanwhile, there was public outcry yesterday over the killings of 187 people in Baga, Borno State, during a clash between the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram and the Joint Task Force.

Groups that condemned the killings included, the Arewa Consultative Forum, the Senate and the House of Representatives, among others.

The Senate said it would investigate the alleged killings.

It decided to probe the killings following a motion brought by Senator Maina Lawan, (Borno North Senatorial District).

President of the Senate, David Mark, asked the Committees on Defence, Police and National Security and Intelligence to probe the allegations and report  in two weeks.

Mark said, “There are standard rules of engagement and that do not include mass killing and extrajudicial killing. The level of death is just too high and we cannot accept that.”

Mark  did not allow the matter to be debated citing security implications and the sensitive nature of the matter.

Maina, in his submission, said Baga, which is his hometown, was in  ruins following the rampage by the military.

He said, “My hometown of Baga is today in ruins, with 180-200 human lives lost and numerous others unaccounted, 2000 homes, 62 cars and 284 motor cycles and tons and tons of food stuff destroyed.”

However, the North yesterday condemned the killing of over 187 people and the destruction of over 2,000 houses at Baga in Borno State during a clash between soldiers and the Boko Haram. It called for a commission of inquiry instead of probe as promised by President Goodluck Jonathan.