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Nigerian military moves to curtail terrorists’ activities in restive states
Authority of the Nigerian Defense Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said the military had embarked on specialized operations to flush out the Boko Haram insurgents from northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
The new approach marked another phase in the operations which were designed to further curtail the insurgents’ activities, the Director of Defense Information, Maj-.Gen. Chris Olukolade, told a news conference in Abuja on the security situation in the three states under state of emergency.
Olukolade said the specialized campaign, which has commenced is being undertaken simultaneously in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.
The operation is also in furtherance of efforts at apprehending the terrorists and ensuring that they do not escape out of Nigeria as they are now desperate to do, he said, adding that the seeming resurgent activities of the insurgents were at best a reaction to the renewed offensive against it.
“In desperation for money and food, they looted and burnt banks, shops and filling stations along their way through Michika as they headed for the Cameroon border,” the military spokesperson told reporters.
Olukolade told his audience that six of their fighters were killed, two captured while nine of their vehicles were destroyed. One soldier and three civilians also died in the encounter.
“It is believed that those involved in this latest attacks are elements that perpetrated the mayhem against students of the Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi, Yobe, and other places,” he added.
“They have been holed up and are still engaged in suicidal fighting apparently with a view to attaining martyrdom status, as troops close in on the die-hard ones among them,” Olukolade said.
He called on the citizens of the affected areas, particularly border towns, to assist security forces by reporting any movement of the group in their locality.
He said this would enhance military operations and assist in apprehending or eliminating the terrorists.
The three northeast states are prone to attacks by militants from the rebel group Boko Haram, whose goal is to build an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.
The insurgents have in the past targeted churches, security facilities, schools and villages, causing heavy casualties.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states last year in an attempt to curb the insurgency.
