He made the disclosure while briefing the State House correspondents at the end of the National Security Council meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was summoned to review the progress of the war against terror, as well as to receive briefing on preparations for the coming general election.
Minimah said the meeting reviewed the progress of the ongoing war against terror in the North-East, particularly the operations of the last three weeks, saying the council renewed its confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
When asked about effort to rescue the Chibok girls, he stated: “No news for now in all the liberated areas we have. We have also made enquiries, but the truth is when the terrorists are running away, they also run with their families and those we have come in contact have not made any comments suggesting that Chibok girls were there and taken away.
“But we are optimistic that as it becomes closer, the territory is becoming elusive to them we will get further details on that.”
On the outcome of the meeting, he added: “Council reviewed the North-East operations, particularly in the last three weeks and council renewed its confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces and commended them too.
“You know Yobe and Adamawa states have been liberated completely and we look forward to the reinstatement of structures of government and governance. I am also sure you know that in Borno State out of the 27 local governments, we have three local governments remaining, Abadam, Kalabaldi and Gwoza and we optimistic that with time we will liberate those local governments.”
The Army chief was not sure whether election could be conducted in the liberated areas, as he observed that government structures were yet to be restored in the territories.
Asked to speak on it, he said: “I am not competent to speak on that matter. INEC is still there, INEC has to reaccess the situation and evaluate the areas that have been liberated, but I can also tell you that not all structures of governance have been reinstated and they will need to be reinstated so that citizens can go back to their areas and it is then I think they can execute their rights as voters. How soon? I don’t know.”
General Minimah expressed the hope that the ongoing military operation to flush out Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East would end before the March 28, scheduled date of the presidential election.
“It is our wish and we pray God gives that to us, but war is war. War sometimes is not fought on some platforms of permutations,” he said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, briefed President Jonathan and members of the National Security Council about the commission’s preparedness to conduct the forthcoming general election.
Jega, who emerged from the meeting after his presentation at about 2.20 p.m. while the rest of the session went on well into Tuesday evening, declined to respond to newsmen’s questions, as he merely said: “I believe it went well.”
Present at the meeting were vice president, Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff to the President, General Jones Arogbofa; National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki; Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke; Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.
Others in attendance were Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba; as well as heads of the Department of State Security and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
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