BEVERLY HILLS, September 22, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army has declared that it has reclaimed all territories earlier captured by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.
The Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this on Friday in a statement released in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Nwachukwu dismissed as “misleading,” reports indicating that seven of the 27 local government areas of Borno State were still under Boko Haram control.
He described the insinuation as an attempt to propagate falsehood and a futile effort to misinform members of the public on the true security situation in the North East.
Nwachukwu said troops under the Operation Lafiya Dole had recorded significant successes in the counter insurgency operation and rooted out the insurgents from their major tactical enclave in Sambisa forest and spiritual headquarters at Alagarno.
“It is very crucial to set the record straight by making it crystal clear that contrary to this misleading report, the Boko Haram terrorists do not hold or control any local government area in Borno or in the North East as claimed by some elements.
“Local government areas hitherto controlled by Boko Haram have been liberated by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.
“The troops have continued to ensure security in the liberated areas after routing out the insurgents.
“Displaced persons are also encouraged to return to their communities, to resume their normal life,” the statement read.
Nwachukwu said the military had conducted various operations to enhance their operations, decimate the insurgents’ group and protect the nation’s territorial integrity.
“These operations culminated in the degradation and incapacitation of Boko Haram insurgents.
“Apparently, this is the reason the insurgents are striving to remain relevant by resorting to callous use of women and children to carry out suicide bomb attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.
“Our troops are tirelessly on the trail of the fleeing insurgents as devastating coordinated aerial and artillery bombardments are being unleashed on the terrorist group.
“The troops are therefore not waiting only to repel attacks as erroneously painted, but rather tactically deployed to deny the adversaries freedom of action and access to logistics,” he said.
