Fighters of Jama’atu Ahl al-Sunnah lil-Dawa wal-Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram and their Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, colleagues, have been weakened through series of counter terrorism operations by the Nigerian Army that they have resorted to throwing stones at Nigerian troops.
Military sources at the theatre of war around the Lake Chad region confirmed that since the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai relocated to Borno State to lead the assault on the terrorists from the front; Nigerian Army has stepped up the fight leading to the killing of many of top commanders of the terrorist groups.
The sources revealed that apart from the killing of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, several weapons have been recovered from them while their bunkers, where they store large cache of arms, have been destroyed.
The Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists were years back, fond of displaying in video clips, weapons captured from the armoury and daring Nigerian troops to come after them.
The source said in one of the operations carried out by the Nigerian Army recently, the Boko Haram and ISWAP not only abandoned their posts and ran as they were being brought down by troops, but that some of them picked stones and started hauling at directions they imagined the troops to be.
“They were confused and devastated as the troops chased them in their hundreds. After trying to fight back, they now realized there was nothing they could do again so they took to their heels but as the Nigerian soldiers pursued them, some of them picked stones and started throwing in all directions,” one of the sources said.
The source said this is an indication that not only have the insurgents run out of weapons, but that they are confused and helpless and would soon “be brought to their knees.”
Recalls that the Chief of army staff moved to Borno State early this month after scores of insurgents were reported to have fled from Chad and found their ways back to Nigerian territories.
Buratai, had while addressing troops of Special Super Camp Ngamdu in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State on 9 April 2020, said that he will be with them to the nooks and crannies of the theatre.
Buratai was at the Army Super Camp 1 at Mulai and the Special Forces Super Camp 12 at Chabbol near Maiduguri where he interacted with the officers and addressed the troops respectively and was also at the Forward Operations Base at Alau Dam, and also personally led the troops on patrol round Mairimari and Maigilari Forests.
While at Camp Zairo, the former operational center of the terrorists, the Chief of Army Staff charged troops to capture Abubakar Shekau, the factional leader of the Boko Haram terrorists group, alive or dead.
He said, “Let me say congratulations. But, we must move across to wherever this criminal – Shekau is and catch him red handed. I want you to get him.
“Mr President, Command-In-Chief of the Armed Forces says congratulations to all of you for recovering the Sambisa Forest.
“As far as we are concerned, we have come to the end of this operation (clearing the forest of remnants of terrorists). What is remaining now is the Lake Chad waters only and we hope to do that (clear terrorists from it) also very soon.”
A most recent operation at Buni Gari in Gujba Local Government of Yobe State showed that the insurgents have been weakened and are only clutching at straws.
The Nigerian Army in that single operation, killed one hundred and five Boko Haram insurgents and destroyed their weapons.
Apart from the insurgent’s top commanders and field soldeirs, the Nigerina army recovered five (5) AK-47 Rifles, three (3) GPMG, one (1) Duska Anti Aircraft Gun, one (1) PKT Gun, two (2) handheld radio,
several ammunition and ammunition links, two (2) hand grenades, two (2) magazines with ammunition and assorted hard drugs, while one (1) terrorists’ gun truck was destroyed
The operation was carried out by troops of Sector 2, Operation Lafiya Dole, led by their Commander, Brig. Gen. Lawrence Araba.
Generale Araba attributed the recent success to intelligence report, which revealed plan by Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents to attack the village and the troops swiftly intercepted and engaged the criminals in fierce battle.