Boko Haram: Buhari Announces Final Capture Of Sambisa Forest
President Muhammadu Buhari[/caption]
*President Hails Troops’ Resilience
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Nigerian Army has finally driven Boko Haram militants from the Sambisa Forest, their the insurgent’s “last stronghold”.
Speaking in a goodwill message to the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, the President said he was “most proud” to receive the “long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists”.
He said he was informed on the recent development by the Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, that the Islamists’ camp fell at 13:35 local time (12:35 GMT) on Friday.
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“I want to use this opportunity to commend the determination, courage and resilience of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at ‘Camp Zero’, which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest,” Mr Buhari said.
“The terrorists are on the run and no longer have a place to hide.”
The army has been engaged for the last few weeks in a major offensive in the forest, it has recaptured significant areas of territory previously controlled by Boko Haram.
This follows the announcement by the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor, in a news conference in Maiduguri earlier in the week, stating that almost 2,000 civilians had been rescued between December 14 and 21, 2016.
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According to the force, “the era of insecurity, especially the Boko Haram insurgence, would be a thing of the past before the end of December 2016”
The insurgents still stage suicide bombings in the northeast and in neighbouring Niger and Cameroon.
It promotes a version of Islam that forbids Muslims from taking part in any political or social activity associated with Western society, and has been fighting to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state. Its leader has since pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State.
