Sambisa forest, an area the size pf Belgium by some estimates, has been under Boko Haram control for as long as anyone can remember. But the army has said that will cease to be the case before the December deadline issued by the president to completely annihilate the terrorist sect.
Major-General Yushau Abubakar, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole ( as the latest military operation against the insurgents is code named) told journalists after a routine visit to troops in Betta, near Sambisa forest that “we have achieved a lot and we are still doing much, but you know that the job is still there until we finish it. We are very close to Sambisa, we must enter and capture the forest before the Presidential deadline.”
He said the ultimate target was to end terrorism and terrorist activities in the country. “Our major concern is that we must fight Boko Haram to a standstill and ensure that we eliminate them,” he said.
The theatre commander expressed happiness with the troops’ performance so far, noting: “I am happy that we are progressing very well, we have not reached the promised land but we are making progress. We are making efforts to clear all Boko Haram terrorist camps.”
Abubakar said a number of Boko Haram terrorists had been taken into custody after they surrendered their weapons. “For those surrendering we have shown all the human side of the military to them, we are receiving them and some of them are very impressed with what they are seeing.
“We are screening and de-radicalising them for eventual re-integration back to society.”
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