ARMY chiefs have launched a military assault on Boko Haram in Borno State as part of a fresh effort to reclaim the town of Gwoza and its environs from Islamic militants who occupied it last week. In a humiliating setback for the Nigerian Army, Boko Haram militants took over Gwoza last week, forcing troops sent to confront them to flee into neighbouring Cameroon. Since they took it over, Boko Haram has hoisted its flag in Gwoza in place of the Nigerian one and declared it a caliphate that will be run according to strict Sharia law. During the assault on Gwoza, Boko Haram seized its police academy and forced the towns emir to flee, taking over his palace and turning it into their headquarters. They have since blocked access roads to the town prompting the Nigerian Army to launch what one security source described as fierce attacks. “Some active military operations are ongoing but we will not talk until we have regained the town and other villages All I can tell you is that Nigerian troops are capable as they did it in Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and other places, so there is no basis for not dealing with the insurgents at home. “We have launched fierce attacks both on land and in the air. We are prepared to reclaim Gwoza from the insurgents who have become tired of the Sambisa Forest because the terrain has become marshy,” the security source added. He added that troops would have taken over Gwoza by now but the operation is tactical because they are sticking to the rules of engagement. According to the source, Boko Haram is using most of its captives as human shields when it attacks the Nigerian military. Meanwhile, five of the 27 policemen who were at the Gwoza academy when Boko Haram struck have rejoined security forces. They had fled into the bush and emerged yesterday, unharmed and the police hierarchy is hopeful yesterday that the remaining 22 trainees will rejoin their formations soon. -
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:56:19 +0000
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