The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Kenneth Minimah is personally leading the war on the Boko Haram insurgents as troops advanced into the Sambisa Forest, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.
A security source said the recent successes recorded by the troops were as a result of “direct supervision and support” by the Army chief.
The source described the ongoing military campaign against the insurgents as “highly successful” pointing out that General Minimah, being assisted by top military commanders, is providing tactical support for the troops.
“He (Minimah) has mobilised to the northeast few days ago and his presence has boosted the morale of men and officers of the army, navy, air force, the SSS and even the police,” the source said.
According to another source, Minimah is not only in Maiduguri, “he moves around in Adamawa, parts of Yobe, the volatile Gwoza hills axis, the Sambisa and parts of northern Borno. He also rushes to Abuja and back to the battle field time to time.”
Meanwhile, a statement by the Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday said insurgents captured around the border of Lake Chad have been making useful confessions and pleading for mercy.
Director of Defence Information Major General Chris Olukolade said scores of wounded insurgents who escaped from various camps under fire by security forces have been captured in the fringes of Lake Chad.
“The terrorists, who are giving useful information as to the locations of their remnant forces, are full of apologies and pleas for their lives to be spared promising to cooperate,” Olukolade said.
“In their confessions, it was revealed that some of the camps have been disbanded following the directive of their clerics who declared that the operation of the sect had come to an end as the mission could no longer be sustained,” he said.
Meanwhile, more troops are being mobilised to Maiduguri, investigation by our correspondent has shown.
Two military planes were yesterday seen at the Maiduguri International Airport but they left around 6.30pm.
People in Bama and Damboa local government areas who have visited destroyed camps around Sambisa are circulating videos of dead bodies, allegedly of Boko Haram members killed in combat.
But the Defence Headquarters yesterday warned people to stay away from the forest.
“Meanwhile, members of the public who have started visiting to engage in sight seeing in some dislodged camps and fringes of forests such as Sambisa and others have been warned to desist from doing so as the tendency will no more be condoned where operations are still ongoing. The general area still remains a theatre and movement remains restricted as the environment has to be cleared for safety of citizens.,” Olukolade said.
