World Bulletin / News Desk 

Boko Haram members remain in control of Bama in Nigeria's northeast, although efforts to clear them from the city are ongoing, a senior army official has admitted.

Media reports had earlier claimed that the army had recaptured Bama, the second largest city in Nigeria's restive Borno State.

"This is not correct," the army official, requesting anonymity.

Jubrin Gunda, a spokesman for a local vigilante group, said army troops were currently trying to recover the town.

"They were close to reclaiming Bama on Tuesday, but somehow things went wrong," he told.

"The army launched another attack yesterday, and we hope to hear good news soon because Bama is key," said Gunda.

Efforts to speak to Senator Ahmed Zannah, who hails from Bama, were not successful.

Last year, Zannah confirmed that armed groups members had captured the town – following an attack that claimed several lives – and conscripted its able-bodied young men.

The Nigerian army has recently claimed to have liberated several towns and villages from the armed group members, providing the media with numerous pictures of seized weapons.