By Senator Iroegbu, Michael Olugbode and Aisha Wakaso
As the troops deployed to enforce the emergency rule declared in some
states in the North-east pounded Boko Haram strongholds, the Defence
Headquarters said last night that the insurgents were in complete
disarray and on the run.
THISDAY has, however, learnt that the military is considering bringing
back Nigeria’s troops from Liberia to join efforts in stamping out the
Boko Haram insurgency.
The military is said to be preparing for a prolonged war with the
insurgents and as such is reviewing the Nigerian troops’ commitment all
over the world with a view to bringing those who have accomplished their
tasks back home to strengthen internal security.
But such would not affect the country’s troops in Mali and Darfur where
the soldiers are engaged in fighting the same war against terror and
the same line of enemy.
“We are reviewing our troops’ commitment all over the world and some of
the troops, particularly the ones in Liberia, who have been there for
over 20 years, are needed at home to strengthen internal security,” a
top military officer told THISDAY. “We are going for a long drawn
battle with Boko Haram insurgents to take them out completely.”
Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said
the Boko Haram insurgents had deserted their enclaves after coming under
serious bombardment.
Olukolade said about 65 of the Boko Haram members fleeing from their
former hideouts into Maiduguri, Borno State capital, had been captured
by the Joint Task Force (JTF).
In the meantime, JTF has imposed a 24-hour curfew on some black spots in the North-eastern city.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Tuesday declared emergency rule in
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, in a bid to put and end to the
insurgency.
Some of the residents in the affected states are also deserting their homes as troops bombard the cities.
Olukolade said in a statement: "A total of 11 vehicles, four tricycles
and 24 handsets were also seized in the process. All the suspects are
in custody of JTF and are currently being interrogated".
He added that the camps of the terrorists found deserted by the fleeing
insurgents when troops of the Special Task Force stormed the localities
had been occupied by troops.
Olukolade also disclosed that the country’s troops had engaged and
dislodged insurgents groups who carried out attacks on the people of
Gamboru Ward in Borno State on Friday.
He said at the end of the encounter, a total of 10 suspected terrorists
were confirmed dead while weapons such as Rocket Propelled Grenade
launchers, assorted ammunition and rifle magazines were recovered.
He said: " The area is being combed to fish out any of the surviving insurgents.
"Also, some of the fleeing insurgents from various camps have been noted to be in search of fuel from neighbouring communities.
"Citizens are advised to report to JTF, any group of persons roaming
around the local communities with large quantities of containers in
search of fuel. The advance of troops is continuing in all fronts as
scheduled".
In the Marte district, some residents have started fleeing east towards
the border with Cameroon, less than 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) away.
"Fighter jets and helicopters kept hovering in the sky and we kept
hearing huge explosions from afar," Buba Yawuri told AFP. Yawuri fled
from his home in Kwalaram to the border town of Gomboru Ngala.
He said that as the air assaults began, the security forces told all
residents to stay indoors, cutting off access to food and water.
The phone network in Borno State has all but collapsed but phone
service from Cameroon has been sporadically available in border areas.
After leveling most of the camps of the Boko Haram sect situated in
Borno State, there is an indication that the military is moving for the
final onslaught on the insurgents with a house-to-house search on
Maiduguri underway.
In order to make a success of this, JTF announced a total curfew on
some parts of the town believed to be the hideouts of the sect.
The military said in a press statement by JTF Spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir
Musa that the curfew had become inevitable in order for the army to
sustain the special operations in the face of recent Boko Haram attack
in some areas within Maiduguri metropolis.
Musa said: "A 24-hour curfew is hereby imposed in the following wards
and areas: Gamboru, Mairi Kuwait, Bakin Kogi, Kasuwan Shanu, Ruwan Zafi,
202 Quarters, Dikwa Quarters, Low-Cost Sinimari, 505 Housing Estate,
Chad Basin Area, 303 Housing Estate and Baga Road areas with effect from
Saturday, 18 May, 2013 (yesterday)".
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima went round Maiduguri in a convoy to monitor the situation in town.
Meanwhile, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has advised the
military to respect the sanctity of human lives, especially civilians
who are not involved in the crisis in the states where emergency rule is
in place.
US Secretary of State John Kerry had also said on Friday that he was
"deeply concerned about the fighting in North-eastern Nigeria" and urged
the Nigerian security forces to "apply disciplined use of force in all
operations".
The Chairman of the NSGF and Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida
Aliyu, who made this known in a press statement by his Chief Press
Secretary Danladi Ndayebo in Minna, urged all security agencies deployed
in the affected states to operate by their rules of engagement.
The forum expressed support for the emergency rule imposed on the three
states, while believing it would complement the offer of amnesty made
to Boko Haram members to restore peace to the affected states.
While commending President Jonathan for taking the action, the forum
appealed to members of the sect to accept government’s gesture of
amnesty so that lasting peace will return to the region and Nigeria in
general.
A regular meeting of the NSGF earlier scheduled to hold in Kaduna on
Tuesday has been shifted to Tuesday, May 28 to allow governors of the
affected states to monitor the take off of the emergency rule in their
domains.
Top on the agenda of the meeting is deliberation on the report of the
Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security submitted to the
governors in Abuja last month.
The meeting will also discuss the proclamation of emergency rule on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by the president
No comments:
Post a Comment