By Gbenga Akingbule
Nigerian Military, at the weekend, reaffirmed its commitment to rescuing Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and other abductees, promising to sustain the current onslaught against the terrorist groups
Gatekeepers News reports that Leah Sharibu was abducted by suspected Islamic State- West Africa Province (ISWAP ) terrorists along with 109 other girls in their School on February 19, 2018. But while others were released, she remained the only girl held back by the terrorists because she refused to renounce her Christian faith.
The Military stated that the terrorist groups have been degraded to the point that they cannot carry out successful combat operations.
Major General Christopher Musa, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai made the disclosure while reeling out some of the recent achievements of the Theatre during a press conference held at the Headquarters of Joint Task Force (North East).
“We’re intensifying efforts to rescue Leah Sharibu and other abductees. We have been rescuing persons that were not even reported to have been kidnapped ” Gen. Musa said.
He added that “our troops are now entering every enclave, location and camps of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists. That gives opportunity to them ( Chibok girls and other abductees) to come out of captivity. We will continue to push until all Chibok girls and other abductees are out of captivity.”
The Theatre revealed that the military has been recording huge success since the commencement of incisive Operation Desert Sanity, noting that there would be no hiding place for terrorists who refuse to explore the non-kinetic strategy of the Military by surrendering to troops.
“What we are doing is to deny Boko Haram and ISWAP ability to get vital logistics that keep them going, we are also ensuring effective economic strangulation of the terrorists’ logistics suppliers.
“A typical example was on 13th July 2022 when our troops arrested one Haruna Fulani and Umaru who were suspected logistics suppliers to the terrorist commander, Ali Ngulde at Mandara mountains, in Gwoza general area.
“Items recovered include; 13 bonds of female wrappers, 30 yards of black cotton cloths, female underwear 25 pairs of rubber shoes and other items,” Gen Musa said.
Gen. Musa however admitted that the terrorists have sustained Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) attacks on isolated communities and soft targets.
“The impression by the terrorists is that they( terrorists) are just trying to show they’re still present, but we’re talking them,” Gen. Musa said.
