Jonathan Warships Inaugurates In Support Of Battle Against Boko

Due to the ongoing military onslaught to rout Boko Haram terrorists in the North, Special Forces of the Nigerian Military, aided by the Air Force and Chadian troops, yesterday,

pounded the Sambisa forest headquarters of the sect, killing 117 terrorists and arresting the Amir (Commander) of the sect. This came as Gwoza, which had become their new training base, was not spared.

The troops also recaptured Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.  Dikwa, headquarters of old Kanem-Bornu Empire, was taken over by Boko Haram some months ago, forcing the first class monarch, Alhaji Abba Tor Masta II, and thousands of his subjects to take refuge in Maiduguri.

It will be recalled that the premier Mobile Police Training base is located at Gwoza and when Boko Haram overran the base and abducted 30 police officers, who are missing till date, the terrorists allegedly converted the base to their training camp.

Confirming the development, Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said: “A concerted air campaign by the Nigerian Air Force is ongoing in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves.

“The air strikes which today targeted the training camps and logistics dumps of the terrorists in Sambisa forest and parts of Gwoza have been highly successful as it achieved the aims with required precision.

“The death of a large number of terrorists has been recorded while many others are also scampering all over the forest and out of the struck bases.

“Meanwhile, the strikes continue in other locations of the theatre heralding the advance of troops and other elements of the mission.”

The recapture of the town of Dikwa took place at about 7am, yesterday, after Chadian troops cleared Gamboru Ngala, Kala Balge and several villages off Boko Haram insurgents, and proceeded to storm Dikwa which is less than 100 kilometres north-east of Maiduguri.

A military source said that the raid, which comprised military airstrikes backed up by ground troops, inflicted severe casualties on the terrorists which led to the recapture of the town now under control of the troops.

The source also revealed that during the encounter with the troops, two Chadian soldiers lost their lives, while the Amir (Commander) of the sect was arrested at the palace of the Shehu of Dikwa, which the troops suspected was turned to the base/headquarters of the insurgents.

“The terrorists had established themselves in Dikwa after taking over all the prominent buildings, including the Shehu’s palace, local government secretariat as well as the official and private residences of prominent people,” he said.

“Chadian soldiers took over Dikwa from Boko Haram after heavy fighting on Tuesday,” Bababura Diwa, who lives in the town, said by telephone from Fotokol, across the border in northern Cameroon.

Diwa said the Chadians came from Gamboru, which they previously recaptured, with heavy artillery power and overpowered a group of militants at Lomani village, 15 kilometres from Dikwa.

“When they came into Dikwa, there was intense fighting but at last, they subdued the Boko Haram fighters. They killed many of them, including Abu Ashshe, their commander who was notorious for seizing cattle in the area.

“I used the opportunity provided by the presence of the Chadian troops to leave the town. I was afraid to leave when Boko Haram took over the town for fear of being branded a traitor and killed.”

Diwa’s account was backed up by several other residents, who took advantage of the Chadian advance to flee the ancient town, which is near Boko Haram’s makeshift camps in the Sambisa Forest.

Jidda Saleh, another resident, said Chadian troops launched heavy aerial and ground attacks on the Kala-Balge area, particularly on Nduwu village, which he said was a “major Boko Haram stronghold”.

“The whole village was bombarded and it is obvious Boko Haram suffered heavy casualties from the aerial attack. Ground troops moved in later,” he added.

“Meleri, which has a huge Boko Haram concentration, was also bombed by Chadian military jets and then taken over by ground troops. By the time we left, we learnt the Chadian soldiers were on their way to Kushimori village where Boko Haram keeps the livestock they seized from people.

“They have kept thousands of livestock there. They sank boreholes and recruited people to rear the animals for them”.

Algoni Wal-Amire, another Kala-Balge resident, welcomed the offensive.

“Living under Boko Haram was like living in a minefield. You are always afraid your next step could be your last. I thank God I’m now safe from them,” he said.