The Nigerian military has given strong assurance of securing the nation against terrorists’ attacks, during and after the general elections.
This comes as the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, released a video online, threatening to disrupt the general elections rescheduled for March 28 and April 11.
“No Matter The Threats”
In the video, Shekau said: “This election will not be held even if we are dead. Even if we are not alive Allah will never allow you to do it”.
But the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, told Channels Television on Wednesday that military operations against the sect in the north-east would continue “no matter the threats”.
He played up success of the military in Monguno and other towns in Borno state as proof of Nigeria’s determination to quash the Boko Haram sect.
Troops in a military operation spearheaded by highly coordinated air assaults on Monday completed the mission of clearing terrorists from Monguno in Borno State and environs, a military official said.
The spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, in a statement said a number of the Boko Haram terrorists were captured in the course of the operation on Monday morning.
Major General Olukolade further said that truck loads of rice, beans and other logistics meant for resupply to the Boko Haram terrorists operating around Baga were also captured.
“Casualty inflicted and arms recovered as well as other outcome of the operation in Monguno, Marte and other communities already secured, will be determined after the ongoing cordon and search in the environs,” the statement read.
Nigeria’s General election earlier scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28 was postponed by the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 7, with the electoral body saying it was advised by security chiefs to shift the election to enable the military secure towns in the north-east before the elections.
The INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, said that the military had warned that it would not guarantee the safety of lives and property in the volatile region if elections were held as scheduled.
The sect have continued to terrorise communities in the north-east as it sought an Islamic state and an end to western education.
Meanwhile, nearby Gombe State has remained under a 24 hour curfew, after the military repelled an attack by Boko Haram over the weekend.
No casualty figures have been released, but the military says it was a major victory against the insurgents.
