Against the backdrop of
evidence that Boko
Haram commander,
Mohammed Bashir, who
has been impersonating
the late sect leader,
Abubakar Shekau in
videos was killed on
September 17, by
Nigerian soldiers, the
Defence Headquarters,
DHQ, has warned that
any other person or
leader who emerges
using the name ‘Shekau’
will receive the same
treatment.
The warning was made
just as 135 members of
the terrorist group have
surrendered to troops in
Biu, Mairiga-Buni Yadi as
well as Mubi-Michika
towns.
Briefing the media on
current developments in
the Counter Terrorism
Campaign yesterday,
Director of Defence
Information, Major
General Chris Olukolade
said, “Since the name
Shekau has become a
brand name for the
terrorists leader, the
Nigerian military
remains resolute to serve
justice to anyone who
assumes that designation
or title as well as all
terrorists that seek to
violate the freedom and
territory of Nigeria”.
Disclosing that many of
the insurgents have been
surrendering to the
Nigerian troops,
Olukolade said, “A total
of 135 terrorists on
Tuesday evening
surrendered with
equipment, to troops
around Biu local
government area. A
group of 88 submitted
themselves at Mairiga-
BuniYadi while another
group of 45 terrorists
were taken in, around
Mubi-Michika”.
He said they are all
being interrogated and
processed in conformity
with the dictates of
standard best practices”.
Explaining how the
operation was going on,
General Olukolade said,
“Nigerian troops have
been conducting
coordinated air and land
operations in
furtherance of efforts at
containing the terrorists
in the North East part of
the country”.
“Somehow, it became
apparent that the
terrorists in continuation
of their campaign of
terror were determined
to take over communities
around Maiduguri which
is their prime target.
There was therefore the
need to ensure that
communities such as
Konduga were
protected”.
“It is noteworthy that the
terrorists made not less
than four attempts
between 12 and 17
September 2014 to
violate the security and
enter Konduga to
perpetrate their
atrocities. Air and land
forces were subsequently
deployed to handle the
situation”.
“The convoy of combat
vehicles typical of
terrorists’ mission that
involves their top
commanders were
fiercely engaged by the
land and air forces.
Several of the terrorists
including some of their
commanders lost their
lives in the encounters
which lasted an average
of about 5 hours each.
The troops captured
some of the terrorists
and their equipment”.
“In the course of those
encounters, one
Mohammed Bashir who
has been acting or
posing on videos as the
deceased Abubakar
Shekau, the eccentric
character known as
leader of the group
died”.
Continuing he said,
“Since the name Shekau
has become a brand
name for the terrorists’
leader, the Nigerian
military remains resolute
to serve justice to anyone
who assumes that
designation or title as
well as all terrorists that
seek to violate the
freedom and territory of
Nigeria”.
“On restoring normalcy
after the encounter,
inhabitants of the
community who were
victims of terrorists
activities corroborated
information on the
identity of Bashir
Mohammed alias
Abubakar Shekau; alias
Abacha Abdullahi
Geidam; alias Damasack;
etc. Indeed, the recent
devastation on the
leadership of the
insurgents is attributable
to the renewed
commitment to the
mission of eradicating
terrorism in our
country”.
“Meanwhile, a total of
135 terrorists have
yesterday evening
surrendered along with
equipment to troops
around Biu Local
Government Area. A
group of 88 submitted
themselves at Mairiga/
Bun – Yadi while another
group of 45 terrorists
were taken in around
Mubi – Michika. They
are all being
interrogated and
processed in conformity
with the dictates of
standard best practices”.
“The Defence
Headquarters applauds
the gallantry of the
Nigerian troops who
have remained
undaunted and
professional in
prosecuting this
campaign against terror.
The keen interest
exhibited by our
neighbours and allies is
commendable and we
appreciate them”.
“All allies in the war
against terrorism are
hereby assured of the
Nigerian military’s
resolve to maintain
momentum in the efforts
to decimate and defeat
terrorists. The invaluable
efforts toward achieving
sustainable peace and
victory against the
terrorists are highly
appreciated”.
“It is nevertheless
necessary to alert all
citizens that there is still
the need for even more
vigilance and
cooperation with the
security forces.
Everybody is required to
remain alert to ensure
that we are not taken
unawares by terrorist
elements who might
want to carry-out
isolated attacks in any
part of our country”.
On the true position of
the Chibok girls
presently, the DDI said
all efforts were still
ongoing to secure the
release of the girls
noting that the military
will not relent until the
girls are secured.
Asked to comment of
allegations by
Cameroonian military
authorities that they
were responsible for the
death of the imposter
Shekau, Olukolade said,
“To the best of our
knowledge, we can say
categorically that no
foreign force of any type
penetrated our country’s
borders up to Konduga
which is just about 35
kilometers to
Maiduguri”.
On the situation in Bama
and Gwoza, the DDI said,
“I want to repeat what
the Defence
headquarters have been
saying all along. We
have not conceded any
part of this country and
we won’t do so. All these
areas still remain part
and parcel of our
operational areas and
the operation is still
ongoing”.
On why Nigerian troops
were now having upper
hand over the terrorists
in the battle, Olukolade
said, “Training and more
training has been going
on; equipment and more
equipment has been
coming in. It will keep
coming in. There is also
a new resolve to deal
with all these nonsense
once and for all”.
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