“Boko Haram is DEAD” – Nigerian Army chief
Nigeria’s information and culture minister Lai Mohammed has been cautious in claiming victory against Boko Haram terrorists.
“Boko Haram has been technically defeated,” Mohammed says. The emphasis here is on “technically.”
Mohammed said the terrorists may continue to attack “soft targets” – churches, mosques, markets, and all that.
But the Nigerian Army, the unit saddled with the responsibility of blowing Boko Haram into oblivion says it has actually achieved that.
“The terrorists have been defeated,” the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has claimed.
He, however, warned that the terrorists may try to rear their heads again. But he said the Nigerian Army would be ready.
Burutai’s words:
The North East operation is critical at this stage. The terrorists have been defeated; these criminals may rear their ugly heads through other means. We will continue to maintain vigilance.
The army chief made the comments over the weekend while laying the foundation stone for the new Brigade headquarters complex at the 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The declaration of victory against Boko Haram signals Nigeria’s triumph over the sect’s six-year terrorism, the government may claim.
But many wait on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue the Chibok girls Boko Haram kidnapped in April 2014.
Nigeria may declare itself winner once that is done.
One of the many Nigerians who insist the girls must be rescued alive is former education Minister Obiageli Ezekwesili. She leads the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group which continually pressures the government to rescue the government.
Unfortunately, Buhari said he has no idea whether the girls are even alive.
But Ahmed Salkida, a journalist who claims to have access to Boko Haram leaders, said the girls are alive and well.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had also said he believed the girls were alive because Boko Haram had not displayed their corpses..
