Nigerian Army kills 210 Boko Haram members in Sambisa forest Over 210 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect have been killed in the past few days by security forces carrying out raid on Sambisa Forest, sources close to the operation and locals disclosed. It was gathered that hundreds of operatives of the army and the air force, in close collaboration with the State Security Service (SSS) and the police have destroyed many minor and satellite camps as well as enclaves of the Boko Haram terrorist group. The operation was described as a “major feat” by the military since the commencement of the state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States almost 10 month ago. The Nigerian security forces had come under serious criticisms over their alleged inability to contain the rampaging posture of the Boko Haram. Boko Haram fighters have killed over 500 people in attacks in the North-East in this year alone, in addition to sacking of dozens of villages and towns in the three states. But sources close to the recent operations and villagers said the clampdown on the insurgents was on-going, pointing out that it was yielding the desired results. Like never before, resources and manpower have been mobilized to volatile areas in Bama, Gwoza and Damboa local governments of Borno State, as well as around Gulani and Gujba local governments in Yobe State,” a security source said. All the areas mentioned above have routes that lead to the Sambisa Forest, which is seen as the biggest hideout of the Boko Haram insurgents. “This is a critical moment of our operation but we are making headway. The Sambisa (forest) is an unpredictable place. The terrorists have occupied it, dug countless tunnels and camps. “But we have got the architecture of the place, effectively cleared most camps around it and we are tactically routing out the assailants,” the source, who does not want to be mentioned, said. It was learnt that troops have also been mobilized to the northern parts of Borno State and the fringes of the Lake Chad and other communities close to Cameroon and Niger. “Two medium but dangerous camps have been cleared in Anagarno and Ajiri, while tiny enclaves spread across Kukawa/Baga, Abadam/Mallam Fatori, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa and Mafa have been successfully uprooted with serious casualty on the side of the terrorists,” another senior security officer said. “In our various fields of operation, over 210 terrorists have been killed, many captured alive while hundreds of others are on the run, but we are pursuing them. (There is) no place for them to hide,” he said. |The source said the “recent success” was as a result of recent reorganization, re-strategizing and synergy among various security agencies. “Wittingly or unwittingly, before now, there was a problem between the army, the Air Force, the police and the SSS. “The military hardly took security reports seriously and the efforts of the police were being undermined... We recently got a marching order from Abuja to put our houses in order before it is too late,” he said. The source added that more troops, with advanced warfare training and equipment, have been deployed to volatile areas. “We cannot beat the drum of victory for now, but I can assure you that the bad days are over. The terrorists are now on the defensive, we are taking the war to them,” he said. Some locals in Damboa and Bama local government areas said some of the destroyed Boko Haram camps were becoming sites for tourist attraction. “People are now visiting some of the destroyed camps near Sambisa. There are dead bodies, destroyed vehicles and personal effects of the terrorists all over,” Lawan Mato, a trader in Damboa said.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:02:26 +0000
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