Finally, Nigerian Troops Bombard Sambisa Forest
Boko Haram insurgency, the military has
stormed the insurgents in Sambisa Forest,
their notorious hideout, according to
reports from the Hausa service of the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The director of defence information, Maj-
Gen Chris Olukolade, told the agency that
the military had been raiding the forest and
other hideouts of the sect since Tuesday
night.
According to the agency, the army used it
war drones to level some of the Boko Haram
camps in the northeast but it was not clear
about the casualties on both sides. The army
said that they are still committed to securing
the civilian population at whatever cost.
"We are still committed in ensuring that we
degrade their ability to continue their
activities and eventually eliminate them,"
Olukolade said.
"The mission is on. There are no allowing
terrorists anywhere. As many times as they
come, it will only give us the opportunity to
decimate them."
On Saturday, Chadian forces reclaimed the
northeastern Nigerian town of Gamboru-
Ngala after a heated battle with Boko Haram
that involved a ground and air campaign.
Gamboru-Ngala, about 145 kilometres east
of Maiduguri, was captured by Boko Haram
last year.
A soldier involved in the operation said
Chadian forces were working under the
African Union agreement to help Nigeria in
its fight against Boko Haram.
Information made available to LEADERSHIP
yesterday indicate that troops of the
Nigerian Army under directive to invade
Sambisa forest in Borno State with a view to
end the years of Boko Haram insurgency,
have started bombarding the fringes of the
forest near Adamawa state.
Sources close to the area have confirmed
that aerial bombardment had commenced
yesterday.
A soldier serving with the 7 Division, Nigeria
Army, Maiduguri confirmed this
development to Leadership even as he
begged not to be quoted in this report.
According to him, "special forces have been
mobilised from different part of the country,
especially the 81 battalion, to Yola over the
weekend and the operation starts today
(Monday).
"What people may have heard or seen today
may not be unconnected with the operation.
They have to do the bombardment of the
forest starting from the fringes before the
artillery troops would begin to advance. But
be rest assured that before the end of this
week the forest as well as many
communities under the control of Boko
Haram would be reclaimed".
The soldier said himself and most of his
colleagues were happy with the resolution
of the United Nations for agreeing to
constitute an international joint task force to
deal with the Boko Haram.
Explosion rocks Gombe after Jonathan's
rally
Barely 20 minutes after President Goodluck
Jonathan concluded his campaign in Gombe
State, a car bomb exploded in the state
capital, killing at least three people and
injuring 18 others, according to a report by
the BBC.
Eye witnesses said the attack executed by a
female suicide bomber immediately killed
women, including the bomber.
A resident, Mohammed Bolari, said that the
explosion occurred some minutes after
President Jonathan's departure.
"The president had just passed the parking
lot and we were trailing behind his convoy
when the explosion happened," Bolari said.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the state was
similarly hit by two blasts on Sunday that
killed no fewer than five people.
Another resident told AFP that the latest
blast led to unrest in Gombe with angry
youths attacking supporters of the People's
Democratic Party (PDP), the president's
party.
"They were shouting and denouncing the
president's visit which they blamed for the
attack," he added.
FG lauds AU over deployment of 7,500
troops
The federal government said yesterday that
the African Union Peace and Security
Council had approved the mobilization and
immediate deployment of 7,500 to Nigeria to
fight insurgency in the north East.
Coordinator of the National Information
Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, stated this while
briefing journalists at the centre in Abuja.
He said, "The African Union Peace and
Security Council, at the recently concluded
24th ordinary session, approved the
mobilization and deployment of 7,500
troops to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram.
"Consequently, the AU peace and Security
Council is billed to begin to meet in
Cameroon on Monday to authorize and
finalize the concept of the operation in the
fight against Boko Haram, a decision which
has been welcomed by the UN secretary-
general Mr. Ban Ki Moon."
Speaking on the recent breakthrough
recorded by the Nigerian army against
insurgents, Omeri said the soldiers'
gallantry and the recovery of three
armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and 17
pick-up trucks from the terrorists helped the
troops to inflict heavy casualties on them,
and recapture of the towns of Mafa,
Gamboru-Ngala, Malumfatori, Abadam and
Marte, while troops are advancing to retake
other affected areas.
"The situation in Adamawa State shows that
Hong, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha,
Michika, Shuwa, Wuro Gyambi, Gombi,
Vimtim, Uba and Bazza areas have been
liberated from Boko Haram presence, while
Madagali, Gulak, Wagga-Mildo, Shelini/
Vapra, Sabon-gari and Gubla are still under
Boko Haram presence.
"Other areas such as Kirchinga, Pallam and
Mayo-wandu have remained calm and
peaceful. Equally, government troops in
Yobe State have recaptured parts of Gujba
and Gulani which had witnessed Boko
Haram presence," he said
Omeri noted that the latest attacks on
Maiduguri marked the second time the
insurgents were launching a ferocious attack
on the Borno State capital within one week,
saying the Nigerian military's gallantry in
resisting these attacks has resulted in the
recapture and liberation of several towns
hitherto occupied by the sect.
He expressed government's approbation of
the determination and loyalty of the troops
and local folks who ably defended their
territory in spite of the violence unleashed
by the insurgents.
He urged citizens living within and around
the affected areas to be more vigilant and
continue to assist troops and other security
operatives in their efforts to contain the
insurgency.
Boko Haram suffers more casualties in
fresh shootout with soldiers
Boko Haram terrorists on Sunday night
suffered heavy casualties after hours of
shootout with soldiers in Konduga town, 35
kilometres away from Maiduguri, security
sources and witnesses said.
Residents in Konduga said the terrorists had
plotted to seize Konduga, a town they had
repeatedly tried and failed to take in the past
months.
The gunmen had attempted to invade
Konduga through a neighbouring village
called Tungushe, but met a firewall of
resistance from Nigerian soldiers stationed
there.
A resident of Konduga, Abuwar Ibrahim,
who said he witnessed the incident, told
LEADERSHIP: "The soldiers were courageous
and very professional in the defence of
Konduga and its environs.
"The insurgents came at about 5pm on
Sunday and engaged the military in a gun
battle. They were throwing explosives and
Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) but they
were not successful as usual because the
soldiers stood their ground and ensured
that about 100 of the insurgents were killed.
"Their corpses littered the streets and the
surrounding bushes of the village. I saw
many of them. The military seriously dealt
with them; they actually did good job. If the
soldiers maintain these tempo, I believe,
very soon, the Boko Haram insurgency will
end as they (the terrorists) were all defeated
in all the recent attacks.
A top military officer who does not want his
name mentioned in this report confirmed
the Konduga battle.
"The Boko Haram terrorists attempted to
take Konduga again yesterday but they failed
as usual; our men seriously dealt with them
there, and going by the reports we got from
our field commanders, over 100 of them
were killed."
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