The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Army moves against suicide bombing in Northeast

    Worried over increased suicide bombing attacks within Maiduguri metropolis and its environs, The Nigerian Army has promised to give N5 million to any member of the public that will give useful information leading to the discovery  of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory within Maiduguri and the entire Northeast.

    Briefing journalists at the Military Control and Command Center on Thursday, the theater commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Rogers Nicolas said “we have N 5 million ransom on anybody who gives information on where about of bomb making factory in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and any part of the theater”.

    Maj. Gen Rogers who is not happy with the manner the insurgents have stepped up their game in suicide bombing which is now gradually infiltrating the state capital Maiduguri said; ” I know the bomb making factories are located within our communities, security is not only for the military or other security agencies but a collective one, anybody who has information on whereabouts of IEDs factory should contact me, the police, DSS or any other security agency, he has a N5 million ransom,”.

    He regretted that,  “within one month, we took off over 35 suicide bombers, arrested 25 in Bama, Konduga, Maiduguri, Tungushe, Madgali and Mubi in Borno and Adamawa states. You should assist us to secure our communities,” Gen. Rogers appealed to the public.

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    He called on  the general public particularly communities in the Northeast to always volunteers prompt information on the movement of Boko Haram insurgents, as they pass through  their villages or communities before ambushing or attack any community or military locations.

    He informed that  over 1 million people were rescued from Boko Haram captivity in various operations in the theatre upon assumption of office as the Theatre Commander.

    “We have disseminated and degraded the Boko Haram insurgents through our efforts to secure northeast. They no longer have the capacity to launch an attack on the military that is why they resort to attacking soft targets through suicide bombings,” Maj. Gen. Roggers added.

    Maj. General Nicolas also expressed happiness that the success recorded in the theatre has paved way for the  return IDPs to their communities like the 2,000  people of Guzamala that  returned voluntarily, adding that, “those of Marge and Abadan will son fellow suite to enable them go back to their farms, as rainy season sets in”.

    Maj. Gen Roggers solicited the support of the media in the war against the insurgents over objective reportage and avoid engaging in propaganda which according to him gives the terrorists the oxygen to breath.

  • Two female bombers die at military market in Maiduguri

    The Borno Command of the Nigerian Police Force said two female Boko Haram bombers died on Wednesday night while attempting to infiltrate 333 Artillery military hangout in Maiduguri.

    Edet Okon, The Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), disclosed this in a statement released today in Maiduguri.

    Okon said that the first bomber was gunned down by soldiers while trying to buy a ticket to gain entrance into Mammy market, where soldiers socialise. The soldiers had shot her on suspicion she was a bomber.

    “The bomb exploded and killed the first bomber while the second bomber detonated her IED inside the tricycle. The driver of the tricycle fled the scene.

    “As a result of the explosions, the two bombers died instantly while fifteen persons were injured and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

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    “Meanwhile, the scene of incident has been sanitised by a team of EOD personnel and normalcy has been restored.

    “The Commissioner of Police Borno State, CP Damian Chukwu assures members of the public of the commitment of the force to continue to protect lives and properties at all times.

    He also urged residents to be extra vigilant and to promptly report suspicious persons and activities to the Police or other security agencies for necessary actions.

  • Boko Haram IDPs celebrate final return of peace to the North-east

    ….commend Buhari, Buratai’s commitment

    No fewer than 2, 000 persons displaced from north east as result of activities of the Boko Haram insurgents are  finally returning  to their ancestral homes from Abuja and environs where they have been living for years.

    The IDPS, who were hitherto house in Kuchigoro camp and other annexes in the nation’s capital on Friday, stormed the Unity Fountain to thank the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army for liberating their villages from the grips of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Speaking on behalf of the former IDP, Mrs Maryam Nuhu, called on the relevant authorities to fish out those who have been sponsoring the Boko Haram sect that had made the country volatile.

    Nuhu also saluted the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for his tenacity, to make sure IDPs can return home.

    She recall with nostalgia, “For years we were displaced persons in our own country, at the Kuchigoro IDPs camp and other annexes in Abuja and neighboring states. The measure of comfort and care provided us almost made us to resign to calling these camps home. But even if we had been quartered in the most glamourous of the hotels in the nation’s capital, the affinity for our ancestral lands would have still pulled us to return home as it did now.

    “The only thing that would have kept us away from our home is the terror attacks of Boko Haram that uprooted us in the first place. However, Boko Haram has become history as far as we are concerned. Whatever the terror group is capable of right now is no different from the kind of criminality that can occur on the streets of any of the world’s many towns and cities.

    “Our towns and villages have been cleared of these terrorists. We can now confidently return home to pick up our lives from the points where we will meet them. Of course the scars of our losses are there but they are scars that will remind us of the healing that sincere leadership can bring as opposed to the dark side of humanity that Boko Haram its backers want us to know.

    “Mr. President, thanks you for making it possible  for us to be returning home. Our sad story took a turn for the better because of the Caliber  of military leaders you appointed.
    We thank the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for his tenacity. He went the extra mile to ensure IDPs can return home. From him we have the assurance that we will be protected when we get home.

    “It is proper that we also appreciate the troops. Their sacrifices, in many instances the supreme price, make it possible for us to be returning home today. We say thank you.
    “We want to make meaningful contributions to the economy; we want the Northeast to again be known as a hub for commerce so we need all the incentives we can get to make this happen.

    “We therefore call on Mr. President to intensify efforts towards providing whatever infrastructures are still lacking in our places. Mr President should encourage his appointees to support IDPs to return home to start farming, agro-processing, and small scale ventures that will guarantee everyone a quick win.

    “We believe that returning home is the right thing to do and that now is the best time to do so. We do not wish for or ancestral lands to become wilderness neither do we want the left over of Boko Haram fighters to get free spaces from where to plot further evil. When our towns and villages are occupied by us we can police them through community effort. But we will require that the Nigeria Police Force maintain a robust presence to complement what the Nigerian Army is already doing.

    “In terms of justice, for us it goes beyond the terrorists that have been killer in military operations or jailed after trial. Justice should extend to finding out those that made it possible for Boko Haram to dispense terror. They live in comfort in many Nigerian cities and other world capitals; they enjoy themselves while they made us suffer. Justice would be letting the world know who these people really are and what they did to turn a portion of Nigeria into hell before President Buhari, through the Nigerian Army, redeemed us from the brink.”

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and Publicity, Garba Shehu who received the IDPs at the gate said steps are being taken to rescue the country from terrorist using the Nigerian Army.

    He said the President is with all Nigerians that have been displaced from their homes.

    “There is no day that he doesnt express concern about the plights of the IDPs and he is doing everything possible to relocate them all back to their various communities.

    “It is a slow process but with international support, it shall be done, efforts are on to provide infrastructures to the North East to relocate all displaced Nigerians”he said

  • Nigeria’s territory not under ISIS threat – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters said on Wednesday Nigeria’s territory is not under any form of threat from the Islamic State.

    The DHQ assured that the nation’s Armed Forces are up to the task of defending the country and her citizens from any threat.

    The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen John Agim, said in a statement that there is no concrete evidence to support claims that ISIS has been sending its members on training in the country.

    The statement reads: “The Defence Headquarters wishes to respond to a report making the round that ISIS has been sending her members to Nigeria to train Boko Haram Terrorists members.

    “It is pertinent to state categorically that there is no concrete evidence on the ground to back their claim.

    “However, it could be recalled that the Ali Barnawi faction of BHT in 2016 pledged alliance to the ISIS as a result of our troops’ fire power which dislodged them from Sambisa forest and surrounding areas in the North East.

    “The Armed Forces of Nigeria is aware that there is collaboration between terrorist groups, thus, it is important to note that the activity of one group in a country influences other groups in other countries and because of this knowledge, activities of other terrorist groups usually affect our own military strategy.

    “The Nigeria military will continue to condemn all tactics by terrorist groups of isolating the Armed Forces of Nigeria from any foreign collaboration.

    “If terrorist groups understand the importance of collaboration for evil global attacks, then, it is the highest degree of irresponsibility for Amnesty International to use repeated falsehood with the intention of isolating the Armed Forces from her citizens’ support and international collaboration to win the fight against BHT and other forms of terrorism in Nigeria.

    “Meanwhile, proactive measures are currently being taken to nip any such development if it exists in the bud.

    “The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to assure all Nigeria that it is up to the task of defending the country and its citizens from every attempt to infiltrate it by criminals.  Hence, the ill motivated stories, clips and their claims should be disregarded.”

  • Boko Haram: UN tasks Nigeria on stigmatisation of girls

    The UN has urged the Nigerian authorities to give more attention to protecting the girls and children, who were victims of sexual violence and abuse by the Boko Haram terrorists.

    Ms Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, stated this while briefing on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflicts.

    The News Agency of Nigeria  reports that the plight of the girls, who were victims of sexual violence and abuse by Boko Haram terrorists, were among the spotlights for the Day.

    Under this year’s theme, “The Plight and Rights of Children Born of War,” the Day encourages solidarity with the survivors, who have endured multiple ordeals, in the wake of sexual violence.

    A short video clip featured ‘Khadija’, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists at Banki, Borno and impregnated, being tagged ‘Boko Haram wife’ and her baby, ‘Boko Haram sin’ in the camp.

    Patten recalled her meeting with the victim girls and children born out of rape arising from the sexual violence and abuse when she travelled to Maiduguri in 2017.

    “I met with 200 young girls and there were 162 babies and I was really disturbed by the fact that these young girls and their babies were not only rejected by their families and by their communities but also by the very people they were living with inside the camp.

    My visit to Maiduguri made me realise that more attention needs to be given; I think the focus really has to be on the rights.

    “There’s a convention on the rights of the child that protect these children and more needs to be done,’’ she said.

    According to her, all the girls that she met at the internally displaced people camps in Maiduguri were released from the captivity of Boko Haram.

    She said some of them still had complaints about sexual violence and food, explaining that these were issues that she raised with the government, following her visit to the camp.

    “I raised the issue with the authority, with the Acting President (Yemi Osinbajo), whom I met and who reassured that actions would be taken.’’

    She said government followed up to ensure the review of the administration of the camp.

    She added with further follow up by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, the distribution of food was handed over to the World Food Programme to ensure cases of sexual abuse were minimised.

    My office is trying to support the government of Nigeria and other partners and agencies to meet the needs of the very young survivors of sexual violence and their children through access to some kind of livelihoods support.

    That`s in the process of negotiation with Nigeria.’’

    UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the effects of conflict-related sexual violence echoes across generations, in the form of trauma, stigma and unwanted pregnancy.

    The UN chief described the scourge as “a threat to our collective security’’ and “a stain on our common humanity.’’

    “Children conceived through wartime rape often struggle with issues of identity and belonging for decades after the guns have fallen silent.

    “They may be left in a legal limbo or at risk of becoming stateless.

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    “They are vulnerable to recruitment, trafficking and exploitation, with broad implications for peace and security as well as human rights.

    “Their mothers may be marginalised and shunned by their own families and communities.

    “These women and children are sometimes seen as affiliates of armed and violent extremist groups, rather than as victims and survivors,’’ Guterres said.

    Lord Ahmad, the British Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, also condemned Boko Haram terrorists’ activities against girls.

    “Female illiteracy in some countries is running at 60, 70 or 80 per cent and there are bigoted fanatics, who actually campaign to stop girls from going to school, including the numbskulls from Boko Haram who will raid schools, abduct children and inflict any atrocity in order to deny girls an education.

    “As recently as February, Boko Haram kidnapped 110 girls from a school in Dapchi and we all remember how 276 were taken from Chibok in 2014.

    “When I visited Borno last year, I met girls who had been told they would be shot if they dared learn to read, as the Taliban shot Malala,’’ Ahmad said.

    Similarly, Ms Ninette Kelley, Director of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in New York, while launching the UNHCR’s Global Trends Report, urged governments to ensure voluntary return of IDPs to their communities.

    She added that no displaced person should be forced to return until certain factors are considered.

  • Boko Haram: PPRI to relocate 1000 IDPS, salutes Nigerian Army

    The Peace, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Initiative, PRRI, has announced plan to relocate no fewer than 1,000 persons displaced as result of the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents back to their homes.
    The organisation said it took the decision following its recent findings that no community was found to be occupied by Boko Haram terrorists at the moment.
    According to PRRI, the move became imperative following the total victory of the Nigerian military over the insurgents and restoration of normalcy to the north-east, a hitherto volatile region.
    Launching the program  under the pet  name, ‘Return and Restore’ PPRI said IDPs would not only be supported to return home but they will be engaged entrepreneurial and small scale enterprise activities that would bring them back to normal life.
    Bukola Olasanmi, Media Officer, PPRI in a statement on Monday, said part of the strategy is to support farmers – majorly women – with seedlings, provide skills and set up small businesses that would help families to be self reliant upon their return home.
    Her statement reads in full.
    The Peace Reconciliation and Rehabilitation Initiative (PRRI) had in the past expressed concern at the need to assist communities and persons directly affected by the activities of Boko Haram to be able to return back to their communities. This became necessary owing to the aggressive and strategic activities of the Nigerian military to restore normalcy since 2015 upon the ascension of the current administration of President Buhari.
    Owing to this concern, PRRI has carried out a detailed investigation of the communities allegedly taken over in the past by Boko Haram terrorists with a view to using the findings to develop advisory for our staff and partners as well as for developing our interventions. PRRI therefore commenced resettling of IDPs back
    to their communities in 2016 and was able to return about 5,000 families to their various communities throughout the north-east. The communities were selected based on advisory and investigation by our staffs who went round the entire region.
    The  PRRI can categorically confirm that following from our recent investigation,  no community was found to be occupied or can be occupied by Boko Haram terrorist any more . The Nigerian Army  has cleared the entire areas and embarking on a final phase in the anti-terrorism Campaign called ‘Operation Last Drop’. The PRRI therefore finds this development comforting to observe that what  must be avoided is leaving liberated areas empty for criminality to thrive while the inhabitants of these towns and villages grapple through life under less than desirable conditions in IDPs camps.
    We therefore commend  the Nigerian Army’s ‘Operation Last Hold’ and all other operations that have made gains in rooting out terrorism as part of the commitment of the Nigerian Army to see that people are returned back home without further delay.
    We further confirm from our assessment that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the various camps can now return to their homes since normalcy has returned to these places. The ongoing military operations have made the current situation completely different from what obtained four years ago when their communities fell to the oppressive presence of Boko Haram.
    In continuation of our intervention and as our contribution to rebuilding life in the northeast, PRRI is unveiling a specific target plan  to support the IDPs in the operational area of Operation Last Drop which is Northern Borno with its own “Return and Restore” to assist these persons with farming materials, entrepreneurial skills and direct cash transfer to enable willing persons that desire conventional life again to return home.
    PRRI is committed to resettling 1,000  families under the first leg of Phase 2 of this unique humanitarian program code named “Return and Restore” to help IDPs return back home and get their lives back on track.
    Under the program, IDPs are not only supported to return home but they are also set up and engaged entrepreneurial and small scale enterprise activities that would launch communities into becoming economic hubs and clusters that would revive the economy of the areas that are recovering from Boko Haram’s disruption to life. The strategy is to support farmers – majorly women – with seedlings, provide skills and set up small businesses that would help families to be self reliant upon their return home.
    The first phase of PRRI’s intervention rendered assistance in resettling displaced persons in areas liberated in 2016 to prevent terrorists from regrouping in such places to ensure that the general area of the anti-terrorism campaign taking place in the north east does not have fertile ground for Boko Haram. The “Return and Restore” program is to consolidate on the gains from phase one and is poised to deliver even better results since it will draw from the experience from the first phase.
    PRRI is pleased that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Enterpreneurs Network of Nigeria are partnering with it for “Return and Restore” as well as other NGOs that share in its vision. We appeal to organizations and individuals inclined to offer a helping hand to reach out to the IDPs directly  with their support to return the joy of living to the displaced people.
    PRRI urges IDPs to take advantage of this unique opportunity to return their lives back on track and give a fair chance to their offspring to live life under normal conditions in environments that are conducive.

  • Dangote inaugurates 200 houses, school for widows in Borno

    The Aliko Dangote Foundation on Monday inaugurated 200 housing units and a school it constructed for widows among Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) in Borno.

    Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Executive Chairman of the foundation said at the inauguration in Maiduguri that it was in fulfilment of a pledge he made two years ago.

    He disclosed that the foundation had so far expended over N7 billion in providing humanitarian assistance to those displaced by Boko Haram in the Northeast, and would provide N2 billion more.

    Dangote said: “You may recall in the last two years when I first paid a visit to the IDPs camp, I made a pledge of N2 billion on behalf of Dangote foundation.

    “The gesture was designed to support government to key into the reconstruction of houses that were destroyed and vandalised by Boko Haram.

    “It was the decision of the government that the donation should be given in materials and not cash.

    “It is against this backdrop and with consultation between the foundation and the state government that we provided building materials which included cement, aluminium roofing sheet, iron rode, ceiling as well as fabricated door and windows worth N1 billion to the stat government.

    “The 200 housing would provide accommodation to the IDPs in Borno. Each house is self contained built to house a family.

    Read Also: Aliko Dangote’s parting words to daughter

    “The state government had also provided skills acquisition kits to enable them become self reliant and enhance their livelihood.

    “The state government also built a school for the education of the children which was one of the key aspects that we needed to look into.”

    Dangote said that the foundation would release the second batch of N2 billion to continue with the construction of houses for vulnerable people.

    “I want to assure you that we will continue to do more until the IDPs are reintegrated back to the society and are able to resume their normal productive lives,” he said.

    He solicited for more donation by wealthy individuals towards the resettlement of the Boko Haram victims.

    Earlier, Babagana Umara, the Commissioner of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement, disclosed that the building materials provided by Dangote foundation were for the construction of 1,000 housing units for widows.

    Umara said after the conclusion of the first phase of the reconstruction, the government utilised the remaining materials for the rehabilitation of public structures in Bama, Gwoza, Askira Uba and Konduga local government areas.

    “A school with a block of  ten classrooms and library with well-equipped facilities as well as clinic was also built in order to support the livelihood and health needs of the people.”

    The commissioner announced that the beneficiaries would be supported with irrigation kits, poultry facilities and  fish ponds to boost their means of livelihood.

    In his remark, Gov. Kashim Shettima commended the foundation for its humanitarian assistance, adding that Dangote presented the highest individual contribution and intervention to the IDPs.

    He said that in two years ago, the foundation had donated 100 trailer loads of food and nonfood items to Boko Haram victims.

    The governor noted that Zuwaira, Dangote’s daughter had also visited the state more than 20 times in support of the IDPs.

    Hajiya Yabawa Kolo, Chairperson of SEMA, said those that got the houses were among the most vulnerable persons across the 27 local government areas of the state.

    “The beneficiaries cut across all faith, most of them lost their spouses and were left with a lot of children to take care of,” she said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Esther Kachallah, whose husband was killed by Boko Haram insurgents four years ago in Monguno thanked the foundation for providing them with a home.

    “We get support from church where I sweep to make some money to feed the kids, I thank God I now have a house to call my own,” she said.

    NAN

     

  • Air Force Jets bomb Boko Haram base

    The Nigerian Air Force on Saturday said scores of Boko Haram terrorists have been killed during air strikes carried out in the Northeast by the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole.
    The Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya in a statement issued in Abuja, said the air interdictions were conducted after the NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms had established the presence of the terrorists in the area.
    AVM Adesanya said : “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE yesterday, 15 June 2018, successfully neutralized some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) at Parisu and Takwala, both in Borno State.
    “The mission followed the discovery, by NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, of activities of BHTs in the 2 locations.  Consequently, the ATF detailed 2 NAF Alpha Jet aircraft, armed with rockets and cannons, to interdict the locations.
    “Overhead the objective, the NAF fighter aircraft acquired and attacked the objectives with rockets and cannons. At the end of the mission, it was observed that the attack platforms successfully engaged the remnants of the terrorists hibernating within the settlements and consequently neutralized them.
    ” The NAF will continue to deploy its platforms to conduct intensive ISR missions aimed at discovering the locations of possible remnants of BHTs in the entire Northeast”.

  • Nigerian Army re-strategizing to end insecurity – Buratai

    The Nigerian Army is re-strategizing to deal decisively with problems of kidnapping, cattle rustling and other conflicts in the North Central and North Western regions of the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has said.

    General Buratai also said the army would continue to remain apolitical while ensuring the sustainance of democracy.

    General Buratai in Message to Officers and Soldiers of the Nigerian Army on the occasion of the 2018 Eid El Fitr celebrations said the army has performed well in the past few months especially in the various operations assigned to them across the country.

    The Army Chief said Boko Haram has effectively been tackled, but called on officers and men to redouble their efforts in the collective discharge of their constitutional roles.

    Said General Buratai: “I wish to use this medium to felicitate with all officers, soldiers of the NA and their families on this occasion of 2018 Eid-el-Fitr Celebrations. This Celebration which climax the Holy month of Ramadan offers an opportunity for spiritual upliftment and renewal of our collective commitment to the NA and the Nation at large.

    “I want to use this occasion to commend personnel for their tireless contribution in the sustenance of peace and security across the Country and I urge all to remain professionally focused to this end.

    “The achievements recorded by the NA in the various activities conducted in last few months is worthy of mention. These activities include the successful conduct of Op DEEP PUNCH II, Ex AYEM AKPATUMA (Ex CAT RACE) Op LAST HOLD which is ongoing and the hosting of the African Land Forces Summit in Abuja to mention but few.

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    “Furthermore, we have effectively tackled the Boko Haram Insurgency.  However, in the areas of kidnapping, cattle rustling in the North Central and North Western Regions; we are re-strategizing to decisively deal with the situation.

    “These feats no doubt are calls for officers and soldiers to redouble our efforts in the collective discharge of our constitutional roles.  In the pursuit of this, I charge you all to maintain disciplined, be committed, dedicated, resilient and courageous in the discharge of your duties.

    “May I at this point reiterate my total commitment towards achieving my vision for the NA. It is my desire to transform the NA into a more potent and professional responsive force that will effectively curtail contemporary security challenges.

    “To this end, I want to reassure you all that issues bothering on training and welfare will continue to receive my utmost attention. We shall continue to do our best to ensure the wellbeing of our officers and soldiers as well as their families.

    “Finally, on this great occasion, I want to on behalf of officers and soldiers of the NA reaffirm our unalloyed loyalty to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NA will continue to remain apolitical while ensuring the sustenance of democracy.”

  • Boko Haram: Military killed 798 insurgents in 17 months

    NO fewer than 798 Boko Haram insurgents have been killed in the last 17 months in the North.

    About 326 others are in the custody of the military, it was learnt yesterday.

    However, about 96 soldiers and seven members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed within the same time. No fewer than 216 troops were injured.

    Besides, about 382 insurgents surrendered to troops and 326 others were arrested.

    Apart from clearing 840 villages, 492 assorted weapons, including AK 47 rifles, FN rifles, GPMG, AMG and RPGS, were either recovered or captured, along with 47 Dane guns and 4 x 36 hand grenades.

    It was also learnt that the military has taken the battle to the insurgents in the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountain general area in the border with Cameroon.

    These are part of the fact-sheet presented at an appraisal session in Abuja with members of Rotary Club International (District 9125) by Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Roger Nicholas.

    According to the paper, obtained by The Nation, the summary of the attacks include deliberate operations against Boko Haram and those on military locations by the insurgents.

    Gen. Nicholas said: “A total of 122 attacks on own locations by BHT were recorded from January 2017 to May 2018, with 80 troops killed and 171 wounded.

    “It is however pertinent to note that during these attacks, 427 BHT were killed, 53 of their vehicles destroyed, 492 assorted weapons cutting across AK 47 rifles, FN rifles, GPMG, AMG and RPGS were either recovered or captured, along with 47 Dane guns and 4 x 36 hand grenades.

    “Similarly, formations’ and units’ deployments were adjusted to strangulate and further dislocate the BHT to deny them completely, any freedom of action within the Nigerian territory.”

    The fact-sheet gave separate details of how the troops took the battle to the insurgents and the effectiveness of the campaign.

    The commander said: “The operational activities of Operation Lafiya Dole involve offensive, defensive and blocking operations. These operations have contributed immensely in decimating the BHTs capabilities, cohesion, will power and the propensity to conduct a successful attack on own troops locations.

    “The defensive operations on the other hand have ensured that our troops dominate vital grounds in the entire Theatre of operations.

    “Blocking forces are positioned in specific Named Areas of Interest (NAI) to intercept, block or further neutralise fleeing BHTs from own engagement areas. Additionally, Forward Operating Bases (FOBS) are established close to areas with prevalent BHT activities to ensure quick response of our troops to such areas.

    “So far, from January 2017 – May 2018, a total of 175 deliberate Operations against the BHT were conducted. In these operations a total of 840 villages were cleared with 371 BHT killed.

    “However, during the operations, 16 troops were killed and 45 others injured, with seven CJTF also killed. Similarly, a total of 326 BHT suspects were arrested and 382 surrendered to our troops within the same period under review. ”

    According to Nicholas, the insurgents, who were becoming frustrated, had resorted more to the use of IEDs.

    He said collaboration with Chadian Forces, Cameroonian Defence Forces (CDF) and Nigerien Forces had stepped up the battle against Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains and common borders.

    The commander confirmed arms proliferation and cross-border terrorists’ movements in the Northeast.