The Nigerian Military has has given the assurance that “there is no going back or slowing down anywhere” in the counter-terrorism operation until the Boko Haram terrorist group in the nation’s north-east is wiped out.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, said that air campaigns are continuing with a view to dislodging all the identified terrorist cells, enclaves or hideouts anywhere in the designated mission area.
“The mandate of working towards ensuring the restoration of normalcy for socio-economic, political and other activities to resume as quickly as possible is being given all it takes toward having the mission accomplished.
“So far, so good things are working out in line with the strategic plans. A very significant number of identified terrorists’ enclaves have already been pounded and destroyed in the course of continuing air strikes. Ground forces are also conducting assaults along with necessary mopping up, cordon and search operations in communities and locations previously occupied by terrorists.
“The stage is also set for the conduct of subsequent phases earmarked as part of the campaign. In the process, many communities have been sufficiently cleared to guarantee the return of citizens to their normal lives. The scope is being expanded to ensure that more communities are mopped up and cleansed of every vestige of terrorism. All the towns where the activities of the terrorists are still noticeable will be duly mopped up very soon,” he said.
The military further acknowledged the tremendous show of solidarity and support being expressed by the generality of Nigerian public to the Nigerian military.
According to Major General Olukolade, the gesture of goodwill and understanding in the past weeks had been of tremendous encouragement to the Armed Forces.
“Defeat The Forces Of Darkness”
He, however, advised the media to beware of the mischief and conspiracy by some theorists who are bent on orchestrating a well-rehearsed smear campaign against the Nigerian military.
“They have been struggling to attribute the recent defeats inflicted on the terrorists to the invincibility of other forces or military outfits other than Nigeria’s.
“The truth of the matter is that the current turn of the tide against the terrorists is an initiative conceived and is being driven by the Nigerian military but enjoying the backing of the reinvigorated Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which has troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
“The continuous aerial bombardment of identified terrorists’ cells and hideouts by the Nigerian Air Force and subsequent ground offensive by the Nigerian troops pursuing the dislodged terrorists is proving worthwhile.
“Our partners are entrusted with employing the instrumentality of the Multi-National Joint Task Force to contain any terrorists who heads towards our borders with neighbouring countries and preventing the formation of any new safe haven elsewhere,” the military spokesman said.
He further explained that the forces had been working very hard in consonance with the terms and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding that preceded the counter-terrorism operation, pointing out that the forces are effectively checkmating trans-border activities of the terrorists.
“There have been instances where these provisions for the operation of the MNJTF has afforded our partners the latitude required to pursue or beat back a retreating band of terrorists into Nigerian territory as was the case in Gamboru and other locations not far from the border,” he stated.
Major General Olukolade further reiterated the statement of the Chief of Defence Staff that, “when the country is at war, it is not only the military that should be involved but every segment of the society.
“We believe that together, we shall certainly defeat the forces of darkness that strive to destroy our country”.