Barely a week after a sustained military operation in the three states where emergency rule is in place in northern Nigeria, the Special Forces claimed they have successfully taken over all the camps under the control of the insurgents.
President Goodluck Jonathan, it will be recalled had declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and consequently ordered deployment of mass troops to contain the activities of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram in those states.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Chris Olukolade who just returned from the frontline states told reporters on Friday at the Defence headquarters in Abuja, that the areas are now being combed by the troops.
His words, “during our visit to these operation areas, we were able to confirm that our troops have been able to take over all the camps where the insurgents were operating from and to the best of our understanding, the operation was professionally conducted and well guided in line with the plans and operational orders that were issued from the Defence Headquarters.
He also said the Special Forces were able to rescue three women and six children who were captured by the Boko Haram when they raided Bama town on May 7, expressing satisfaction with the operation that led to their rescue.
“Efforts of the troops operation around the Zambiza forest which resulted in the freedom for nine of the women and children that were held hostage in that camp. You will recall that when the insurgents attacked Bama town on the 7th of May, they held captive a number of women and children that they seized from the Police Barracks around the area.
“In the course of the operation in the Zambiza forest, in the midst of the confusion that ensued, the rebels were running for their lives and so, it was easy to get these children and women to also escape. It was in that process that the troops operating in that area were able to find them out.
“The troops were able to liberate the entire family except for three. In the course of trying to move through the forest, one of the women with two children, I think the stress of moving them through the forest was not easy, we still believe that we will find her and the children because it’s a very large forest,” Olukolade stated.
