Determined to meet the December deadline to crush Boko Haram, Nigerian Army’s operations in the North-east is now in a final push as it heads for Sambisa Forest, the stronghold of the terrorist sect.
The Army, who have frequently promised that it was prepared to meet the December deadline to wipe out the insurgency in the North-east given by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday revealed that the troops are moving for the last known den of the insurgents,
Briefing journalists on the successes recorded in the last one week by the military in the insurgency-ravaged North-east, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Yusha’u Abubakar, said: “As I am talking to you, almost the entire troops in the Theatre are moving towards the Boko Haram den.”
He also revealed that another kingpin of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram has been arrested.
Abubakar said a member of the terror group, Danladi Abubakar, who is number 26 on the wanted list of the 100 members of Boko Haram published by the Army few weeks back was caught in Maiduguri.
According to him, “Danladi Abdullahi was arrested on November 13 with the assistance of the men of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Moduganari within the Maiduguri metropolis.”
Giving accounts of the army’s operations, Abubakar noted that, “troops in harbour at Kardewa village were attacked by Boko Haram terrorists. The attack was successfully repelled.
“The following Items, which were captured include: 25 motorcycles 40 Boko Haram terrorists flags,10 grinding machines and impoverished explosive devices (IEDs) making factory.”
He revealed that additional Boko Haram terrorists enclaves at Angwan Fulani Rugo, Angwan Fulani Kardewa, Dure Fadagwe, Christian, Fadagwe Muni and Balazala were destroyed.
On November 10 at Bulabulin Balgawe Ajiri at about 9.51pm, Abubakar explained, the Boko Haram terrorists launched several rockets in an attempt to break into Maiduguri but the troops and successful repelled them.
He added that on November 11 at Ngumnari near Monguno at about 3:30pm, troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists and engaged them in fire where two insurgents were killed.
Abubakar noted that during the attack an AK 47 rifle was captured from the insurgents with a Dane gun and several motorcycles destroyed.
In the same vein, he said the troops recorded victory at Gudumbali on November 12 as they engaged the insurgents in crossfire and successfully liberated town but not until 10 insurgents were killed.
He said during the operation large quantum of weapons and ammunition of various types were recovered.
Also, he said, on November 12: “Own troops successfully conducted fighting patrol to Boboshe near Dikwa and dislodged Boko Haram terrorists in the area where the following was recovered: two Buffalo Vehicles, two Hilux Vehicles. two AA guns, three 81 mm mortar tubes, assorted ammo including:, 3 x 81 mm bombs,101 rounds of 60 mm bombs, 20 boxes of 12.7mm ammo, 21 RPG Bombs, Large Qty of Shilka Rds, Large Quantity of 7.62mm Special Rds.
At Geidam on November 12 at about 12:30pm, Abubakar disclosed that the troops arrested three suspected Boko Haram terrorists. He revealed that the suspects are under interrogation. At the same Geidam on November 13, he said at about 10:20am, Mallam Ali Lokoja a suspected Boko Haram terrorist was arrested by troops.
He added that additional 14 Boko Haram terrorists were arrested at Katarko, noting that all suspects were under investigation/ interrogation.
On the attack of the insurgents on Gwoza on November 13, Abubakar noted: “At about 0500 am, own troops in Gwoza repelled a Boko Haram terrorist attack and pursued them out of the area.”
During the operation, he said seven insurgents were killed and items recovered include: a Hilux Vehicle, 11 AK 47 rifles, one Shilka gun, one RPG tube, six hand grenade. several Shilka and MG rounds.
He also revealed that troops arrested five insurgents and rescued nine women and six children at Gidan Block village about six kilometres from Yamteke.
Abubakar said another success was recorded at Gudumbali on November 13 at about 09:30am with the arrest of one Mr Madu Abubakar, a suspected insurgent’s spy at Awandari village in Gudumbali general area.
The suspect, according to him, hid in the midst of 30 women; he tried to escape during interrogation and was shot dead in the process.
The commander said the troops also destroyed suspected Boko Haram terrorists food dump along Kukawa – Gudumbali axis on Novembef 13.
In one of the major operations during the week, he said the troop at Gasarwa, a settlement between Maiduguri and Monguno on November 13, killed 18 Boko Haram terrorists in action .
According to him, items captured include:, two AK 47 rifles, a GPMG, a RPG 7 bomb, a box of 7.62mm special, two GPMG belts,
In another development the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked recent reports by some section of the media claiming impending attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in some south western states of the country.
The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Col. Rabe Abubakar, in a statement yesterday, debunked the story as “not only baseless but lacks substance in its entirety, hence should be disregarded”.
Abubakar said “Of more worrisome is the claim that the terrorists have infiltrated the western states”.
He noted that the military and other security agencies had made tremendous successes in degrading and decimating the terrorists who he said, are now in disarray having lost their centre of gravity, camps and their source of logistics.
The DDI said: “It would be unthinkable to raise these unfounded rumours of Boko Haram terrorist planning attack in not only in the west but any other part of the country for that matter”.
He revealed that the coordination and synergy between the military and other security services which led to the arrest of some ring leaders of the terrorists in some states is instructive to their incapability to wage any coordinated attack.
However, Abubakar said, the general public were requested to always be wary of suspicious individuals or groups in their localities and to report such to security agencies for prompt action as this war is Nigeria versus Boko Haram terrorists hence requires collective contribution of all Nigerians for timely ending of this terrorism.
He appealed to the members of the public, particularly those “in the western part of the country not to lose sleep over the unfounded and fictitious reports and to go about their normal and legitimate businesses as the DHQ and other security agencies are monitoring the situation with all seriousness”.
ABUSIDIQU
