Nigerian Troops advance towards main camp of Boko Haram in Sambisa

The Nigerian Army in its ongoing efforts to rid the North Eastern part of the country of Boko Haram terrorists have advanced deep inside Sambisa forest where mop up operations have been yielding the desired results.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai who has been on a week-long operational visit to the war theatre, confirmed the progress yesterday.

Buratai who has also visited many battle fronts as well, briefed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDSS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, at the Military Command and Control Centre, 7Division Nigerian Army, Maiduguri. He said the military had apprehended many terrorist kingpins including the chief camera man of Boko Haram.

He also disclosed that the troops with the recent gains had discovered some network of tunnels inside the Sambisa forest.

"We are deep inside Sambisa Forest" he said with pictorial evidence.

He also noted that other facilities used by Boko Haram to prosecute their insurgency were also captured, with some women and children liberated.

In another development, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Yushau Mamud Abubakar, said that Boko Haram activities have greatly been degraded.

Abubakar also disclosed that the military are making efforts to clear the operational area which includes Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, parts of Gombe and Bauchi, of Boko Haram presence, especially in Sambisa forest.

To this end, he said, that the troops have liberated over 80 towns and villages in the North East. He however agreed with the minister that the military cannot do much without the support of the civil populace and called for the support of the citizenry

The Commander also called for the support of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other relevant bodies in the area of humanitarian assistance and rebuilding of the affected towns and communities.

He said: "Boko Haram activities have been greatly degraded but despite that the terrorists have resorted to attacking soft targets. So we are making efforts to clear the area of terrorists, particularly the Sambisa. However, the humanitarian activities are challenging and therefore, we are appealing to both national and international NGOs for assistance.

"The recent gains by the military has led to the recovery of several territories from the terrorists and have allowed the civil authorities to move in. Currently there are over 80 towns and villages (86) that have been liberated within the 7 and 3rd Divisions.

"This operation is what requires everyone to participate and I can tell you that with peoples cooperation as their civic duty providing the necessary information, Boko Haram is gone. This is because even you mobilise all the military, there is little they can do since they cannot fill all the spaces."

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Credit: ThisDay