Alliance between Nigeria’s neighbours against Boko Haram insurgency is gradually crippling the terrorists, Senior Correspondent, ISHAYA IBRAHIM, writes.
Though the multinational Joint Military Task Force (JMTF), a coalition of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, has been dislodging Boko Haram terrorists in the border areas, there is still no respite in the towns.
In Biu, the largest city in southern part of Borno State, the insurgents have been on the prowl. On February 12, a deadly explosion went off in the town’s crowded market, killing eight people on the spot and injuring 42 others.
Five days later, three thunderous blasts occurred at different areas of the town where 38 people were reportedly killed. The rampage continued on February 16, with the terrorists attacking the palace of the Emir of Askira in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, killing 11 people.
In Potiskum, the second largest city in Yobe State, a suicide bomber blew self up inside a restaurant on February 17, killing two people.
The Islamic sect also attacked some communities in Gombe State earlier on February 14, the original election date, which was later postponed till March 28.
The deadly sect also made its way into the state capital with the sound of deafening sporadic gunshots and heavy bomb explosions heard in different directions. The incident forced residents to scamper for safety, with some of them fleeing to the bushes. It took air raids from the Nigerian Air Force to repel the terrorists.
The upsurge in bombings is coming after Nigeria’s service chiefs asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the poll by six weeks to enable the military secure the North East well enough for elections to take place there.
Incidentally, in a video released on February 17, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau vowed to disrupt the general elections.
“This election will not be held, even if we are dead. Even if we are not alive, Allah will never allow you to do it,” he said.
But the coalition of forces against the murderous sect has been achieving result at the border communities of Nigeria. The Chadian forces, which joined the fighting early this month, swiftly chased away the terrorists from the Nigeria-Chad border town of Gamboru, after launching a ground offensive against the jihadists.
Cameroonian forces supported by Chad’s Air Force also carried out air strikes and used heavy artillery against Boko Haram in the village of Gourgouroon, on the Nigeria-Cameroon border, Cameroon army spokesman, Col. Didier Badjeck, said.
Nigerian forces also dislodged the terrorists in Munguno, which had been in the control of the extremists for several months.
The Cable, an online publication, reported that Gwoza, Baga, Marte, Kukawa and Dikwa have been recaptured from the terrorists, and that fighting was ongoing last week, for the control of Bama and Banki towns.
Within the same period, the Defence Headquarters said 300 Boko Haram fighters had been killed during an operation to recapture 11 towns and villages.
“Weapons and equipment were also captured and some destroyed,” Defence spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade, said in a statement. “However, two soldiers lost their lives, while 10 others were wounded.”
The coalition also took the war to the Sambisa Forest – the Boko Haram domain. Since the fighting started, the military had been reluctant in entering the forest, a vast swathe which is 20 times the size of Lagos. The morale of troops was bolstered by the successes they have been recording against the sect.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the Nigerian warplanes bombed the training camps of the terrorists in the forests and destroying their equipment.
“The death of a large number of terrorists has been recorded, while many others are also scampering all over the forest,” Olukolade said.
These successes are coming after the African Union (AU) backed a regional five-nation 7,500-strong force to take on the extremists amid growing fears about their threat to regional security.
“If we are able to contain the border areas, Boko Harm will be starved of arm and personnel. This is very critical in taming the insurgents,” Shankar Ibrahim, a retired Army Major said.
Experts, however, argue that the tightened border security may not eliminate Boko Haram threats entirely, but would cripple the scale of its operations.
On the other hand, The Economist, a London-based weekly, said, as the election approaches, Boko Haram may step up its violent activities.
“Things are likely to get worse with the approach of the elections, often a time of violence in Nigeria. Some civil rights activists worry that already-stretched armed forces will be withdrawn from the North East – either to protect polling stations around the country or to help stuff the ballot boxes,” it said.
Boko Haram has, somehow, confirmed the apprehension, vowing that it would frustrate the election. Informed observers, however, insist that if the operations of the sect are contained in the borders, their impact will be minimal.