The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, has said
that troops have recaptured more towns from the members of the Boko Haram sect.
Olukolade said in a statement on Friday that the troops handed out a
crushing defeat to the insurgents and recovered the headquarters of Gulani
Local Government Area of Yobe State, Bara, and the headquarters of Madagali
Local Government area, Gulag, from them in the early hours of Friday.
He said that the troops also flushed out terrorists from other locations
such as Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa, during the two-day
operation.
According to Olukolade, many insurgents were killed in the fierce
fighting that preceded the liberation of the communities.
The Defence spokesman said that the troops recovered and destroyed
several arms and ammunition, vehicles and other equipment.
According to him, the items recovered included anti-air craft guns,
general purpose machine guns, barrel grenade launchers, rifles and mortar guns.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed confidence that troops
would sustain the gains they have been recording in the fight against the Boko
Haram sect.
He assured that the military would recover more territories seized by
the terrorist group.
Jonathan gave the assurance when the outgoing French Ambassador to
Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labriolle, visited him at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,
Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said the officers and men of the Nigerian Army
he met on the frontline in Borno and Adamawa states on Thursday were in high
spirits, well prepared and determined to successfully complete their operations
against the terrorist group.
“We have already recovered much territory and very soon our troops will
clear the terrorists out of other areas not presently under our control.”
Accepting a congratulatory message from President Francois Hollande to
Nigeria for recent successes of its armed forces against Boko Haram, Jonathan
restated Nigeria’s appreciation of France’s support for Nigeria and its
neighbours in the fight against terrorism.
He commended Hollande for organising the Paris Summit of Heads of State
of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad in May 2014 to foster
greater regional cooperation against terrorism and insurgency.
The President pledged that beyond the ongoing military campaign in the
North-East, Nigeria would continue to implement all agreements reached at the
summit to ensure lasting peace and security within its borders and in
neighbouring countries.
Jonathan, however, reassured the international community of his
commitment to free, fair and credible polls in the country next month.
The President wished the outgoing ambassador well in his future
endeavours and urged him to always be a “good ambassador of Nigeria’’.
In his remarks, Labriolle said that France was “confident in the future
of Nigeria and its ability to continue playing a huge role in Africa and world
affairs.”
The ambassador also expressed delight at improved trade and economic
ties between Nigeria and France in the last three years, noting that over 250
French companies are currently operating in Nigeria.
Tags
Crime