Posted on: 02:28 Thu, 25 Feb 2016



Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur
Buratai says the military has entered
mop up phase in the fight against
Boko Haram that would facilitate the
release of captives, including Chibok
girls.

He made the remark in Maiduguri
at a meeting with Borno Elders
Forum as part of measures adopted
to consolidate on the gains
recorded in the counter-insurgency
operation.

The meeting was held at the
Military Command and Control
Centre in Maiduguri.

“We were given three major
tasks, and we have made efforts
toward achieving two.

“The first task is to defeat Boko
Haram, and I want to tell you that
as at today Boko Haram has been
defeated.

“When I say defeat, it doesn’t
necessarily mean that there won’t
be hitches here and there. We
have entered the mop-up stage of
our operation,” he said.

He explained that the mop up phase
would facilitate the release of those
held captive by the insurgents,
including the Chibok girls.

According to Buratai, the second
part of the first task is to rescue
those who are held hostage at some
marked locations by the insurgents.

Buratai noted that the second major
task in the military’s north-east
operation was to facilitate the
restoration of normalcy in affected
areas and provision of relief
materials to displaced persons.

He said the military had aided civil
authorities in the return of
displaced persons from Bama,
Gwoza and other communities.

“The second task is to support the
civil authorities in caring and
protecting the Internally
Displaced Persons and to help the
civil authorities in restoring
normalcy and rebuilding those
areas that have been liberated.

“It has already commenced in
places like Bama, Gamboru Ngala,
Baga, Mongonu and most of those
areas are deserted because they
are afraid that they could be
attacked.

“So, we will embark on
confidence building to encourage
them to come back by assisting
the civil authorities, he said.

He said some challenges initially
encountered in the course of
operation had been addressed,
stressing that the operation was
progressing according to
projections.

Buratai acknowledged the support
of the elders and urged them and
the entire Borno people to be
patient with the military
particularly on measures initiated
to tackle the insurgents.

He said measures such as the
closure of markets and curfews
were all taken to address gaps
observed in the military operation.

Chairman of the Borno Elders
Forum, Amb. Gaji Galtimari
appreciated the efforts of the
military in containing the menace
of insurgency in the north-east.

He said that the military had
succeeded in decimating the
insurgents to the extent that the
regular bomb and gun attacks were
limited in parts of the region.

Galtimari said Borno elders were in
support of measures adopted by the
military in finally ending the
menace of Boko Haram and
pledged to do more to support the
military