The Nigerian army are currently on the offensive
against Boko Haram, Nigeria’s national security spokesman said that the
final onslaught was underway.
Mike Omeri told AFP: “significant strategic military successes and gains” had been made against the Islamists in recent weeks.
“Bama (the second biggest town in Borno state) was retaken yesterday
(Monday) and we have Abadam, Gwoza and Askira as part of the remaining
areas where we still have this presence,” he said.
The cities of Abadam, Gwoza and Askira in Borno is said to have been the worst hit areas in the past six years of violence caused by the boko haram insurgency.
Adamawa was declared cleared last Friday and Yobe was retaken on Monday from Boko Haram who recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
The operation aimed at clearing the region from the threat militants after several cross-border attacks in recent months, but also to secure the northeast for elections to be held.
The Nigerian elections which was schedulled for February 14th was moved to March 28th due to the counter-offensive on the grounds that soldiers would not be available to provide security on polling day.
Omeri however could not ascertain if the insurgency would be declared over, although President Goodluck Jonathan said in an interview published last Wednesday that Borno would be free in three weeks.
“As for the other three areas (Abadam, Gwoza and Askira), help is coming,” said Omeri, who announced last week that 36 towns had been recaptured from Boko Haram.
“Soldiers are still out there working hard and we’re en route to the final onslaught because it has started already from Bama.”
The Insurgency has taken the lives of over 13,000 people since 2009 and made over 1.5 million refugees in their country.
Omeri told the affected people that once the affected communities were free, “they will be advised to return home and continue with their lives”.
The opposition has however voiced fears for the integrity of the overall result if the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the violence in its northeast stronghold are disenfranchised.
But Omeri told a separate news conference: “We are confident there will be a level of security to enable citizens to vote.”
Boko Haram were now “running with their tails between their legs”, he added, indicating that the militants were being contained within the northeast.
“Boko Haram are not being pushed into neighbouring countries, we are pushing them to an area where we are finding a solution to their menace,” he said
Reports have revealed that Boko Haram fighters were amassing in Gwoza, which Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau declared part of a caliphate last year and is considered the group’s headquarters.
Omeri also said that South Africans who have been seen alongside Nigerian troops in the northeast where there to for training purposes and no mercenaries were involved.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/404304-boko-haram-will-soon-be-over-fg.htmlMike Omeri told AFP: “significant strategic military successes and gains” had been made against the Islamists in recent weeks.
Nigerian Army
The cities of Abadam, Gwoza and Askira in Borno is said to have been the worst hit areas in the past six years of violence caused by the boko haram insurgency.
Adamawa was declared cleared last Friday and Yobe was retaken on Monday from Boko Haram who recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
The operation aimed at clearing the region from the threat militants after several cross-border attacks in recent months, but also to secure the northeast for elections to be held.
The Nigerian elections which was schedulled for February 14th was moved to March 28th due to the counter-offensive on the grounds that soldiers would not be available to provide security on polling day.
Omeri however could not ascertain if the insurgency would be declared over, although President Goodluck Jonathan said in an interview published last Wednesday that Borno would be free in three weeks.
“As for the other three areas (Abadam, Gwoza and Askira), help is coming,” said Omeri, who announced last week that 36 towns had been recaptured from Boko Haram.
“Soldiers are still out there working hard and we’re en route to the final onslaught because it has started already from Bama.”
The Insurgency has taken the lives of over 13,000 people since 2009 and made over 1.5 million refugees in their country.
Omeri told the affected people that once the affected communities were free, “they will be advised to return home and continue with their lives”.
The opposition has however voiced fears for the integrity of the overall result if the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the violence in its northeast stronghold are disenfranchised.
But Omeri told a separate news conference: “We are confident there will be a level of security to enable citizens to vote.”
Boko Haram were now “running with their tails between their legs”, he added, indicating that the militants were being contained within the northeast.
“Boko Haram are not being pushed into neighbouring countries, we are pushing them to an area where we are finding a solution to their menace,” he said
Reports have revealed that Boko Haram fighters were amassing in Gwoza, which Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau declared part of a caliphate last year and is considered the group’s headquarters.
Omeri also said that South Africans who have been seen alongside Nigerian troops in the northeast where there to for training purposes and no mercenaries were involved.
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