The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Sunday insisted that Boko Haram has been decimated from most parts of the Northeast, stressing that the only battle ground left is in the Sambisa Forest.
Speaking with the Nation, the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, while reacting to the allegation by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, Borno Central, that half of Borno State is still being occupied by the insurgent group, said once the battle for Sambisa is over, Boko Haram will become a forgotten thing.
Abubakar said, “This is a Nigerian war versus the insurgents. Boko Haram is a national catastrophe which requires the support of all to address. Every Nigerian must be seen to be contributing morally to the war against these insurgents”
“The situation is clear on how much we have decimated Boko Haram. Technically, we have knocked down these insurgents.
“The insurgents have been beaten and I stand by what I said. I can beat my chest that the insurgents have been decimated.
“All these attacks on soft targets do not mean that Boko Haram insurgents are occupying any territory. They are carrying out these attacks in order to remain relevant. The insurgents are pretending to be alive when in reality they have lost out.
“The attacks on soft targets by the insurgents do not translate to occupation of territories or some parts of Borno State or the North-East.
“The insurgents’ attacks on soft targets are not peculiar to Nigeria. These terrorists do so in the U.S. France, Britain, and many countries. We are doing our best to protect these soft targets.”
“What is left is Sambisa Forest. That is the last battle ground with the insurgents.
“This Forest is about 80kilometres but I believe very soon, we will overrun the Forest and rout out the insurgents. We will certainly send them packing from the Sambisa Forest.”
Abubakar noted that it’s grossly unfair for anyone to make a claim that half of Borno State is under the insurgents. He added that such an individual was just out to get media attention.
“We have decimated Boko Haram. This is the reality,” he said.
He also called on Nigerians to appreciate and support the troops facing the insurgents so as to maintain the ongoing success that have been achieved so far.
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