Nigerian Army Vows To Capture Sambisa Before December Deadline

Major-General Yushau Abubakar, the theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, has assured Nigerians that the army will capture Sambisa forest before the December presidential deadline.

Vanguard reports that Abubakar expressed his assurance in an interview shortly after visiting troops in Betta, near Sambisa forest.

The theatre commander noted that the military had recorded many successes in its anti-terrorism campaign, but stressed that its main aim was to eliminate Boko Haram.

“We have achieved a lot and we are still doing much, but you know that the job is still there until we finish it. We are very close to Sambisa, we must enter and capture the forest before the presidential deadline,” he said.

Commending the troops for their performance, Abubakar said: “I am happy that we are progressing very well, we have not reached the promised land but we are making progress. We are making efforts to clear all Boko Haram terrorists’ camps.” 

Speaking about those militants who had surrendered their weapons, the theatre commander noted:
“For those surrendering we have shown all the human side of the military to them, we are receiving them and some of them are very impressed by what they are seeing. We are screening and de-radicalising them for eventual re-integration back to society.”

Abubakar revealed that his recent visit to the troops was aimed at boosting soldiers’ morale at the frontline in the fight against insurgents.

“My visit was based on a directive by the Chief of Army Staff that we must be close to our troops.
“We must be able to know what they are doing, guide them, look at their challenges, move with them and encourage them to fight the war. When I addressed the officers that was exactly the message I gave them,” he said.

Abubakar stressed that Betta town was strategic to the military because of its proximity to the Sambisa forest, the notorious Boko Haram hideout.

“Betta is very strategic, because a few months back it was in the hands of terrorists, but we cleared and dominated the place, it is one of those areas liberated.
“If you look closely, the distance between Betta, Yamtaki, Sambisa and other villages which are Boko Haram enclaves is short, for us to be here means we have done lots of job. We are using the place as a launching ground for attack,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force carried out air strikes and destroyed the terrorists’ vehicle workshops, fuel and ammunition dumps all within the Sambisa forest.

Land forces also recorded successes in the war against the Boko Haram sect. On Wednesday, November 11, the Nigerian army announced that it had cleared Improvised Explosive Devices buried along the road that links new Marte-Dogongida-Kerenowa in Borno.