The military yesterday launched a full-scale operation to flush out
Boko Haram, in collaboration with Chad and Cameroon forces, bombing the
dreaded Sambisa forest, camp of the insurgents, in Borno State.
This is coming barely one week after a meeting between the National
Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki and the service chiefs resolved that
the military would begin a massive onslaught against insurgents.
Security source revealed that air force planes had engaged in
sustained bombardment of the Sambisa forest, aimed at destroying the
military hardware of Boko Haram before a ground force will move in to
reclaim territories the terrorists are occupying.
It was gathered that for almost an hour, warplanes struck Boko Haram
positions, after which armoured vehicles rolled across the bridge
linking Fotokol town in Cameroon with Gamboru in Nigeria, clearing the
way for the infantry.
Sources revealed that Chad’s military joined in the air strikes,
while waiting for authorisation for the allied troops: Nigeria and
Cameroon to begin ground operation.
Commenting on this, Major General Chris Olukolade, director of
Defence Information, in a statement said: “The mission is on. There are
no allowing terrorists anywhere. As many times as they come, it will
only give us the opportunity to decimate them.”
The Defence Headquarters spokesman said also: “Contrary to the
impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that
planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from
all fronts in Nigeria, not the Chadian forces, as is being propagated by
some media.”
Olukolade said there were contingents from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon
and Chad in the operations, which allowed “a massive move against
terrorists from all angles.”
In the attack, armoured vehicles and infantry crossed a bridge from
Cameroon into Nigeria. This is coming barely one week after Chadian
troops chased insurgents out of Malumfatori, a Borno town, which lies
near the borders of Chad and Niger.
Also, at the weekend, Chadian forces reclaimed Gamboru-Ngala, after a
heated battle with Boko Haram that involved a ground and air campaign.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of State has warned its o avoid travelling to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe.
A release yesterday, said: “The US Department of State strongly
urges US citizens in Nigeria to consider their own personal security and
to keep personal safety in the forefront of their travel planning.
“The ability of the mission to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in
Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states remains severely limited. The
Department continues to recommend against all but essential travel to
the following states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and
other armed attacks: Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe,
Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,
Yobe, and Zamfara.
“The Department also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea
because of the threat of piracy. Based on safety and security risk
assessments, the embassy maintains restrictions for travel by US
officials to those states listed above; officials must receive advance
clearance by the US Mission for any travel deemed as mission-essential.”
… We’re working together with Chad, others –DHQ
Nigeria’s military said yesterday said the country’s sovereignty was
not compromised despite the presence of Chadian ground troops in the
northeast to fight Boko Haram.
Defence Headquarters spokesman Chris Olukolade played down concerns
about the presence of a foreign power on Nigerian soil, and claimed the
country’s troops were leading the offensives.
“Contrary to the impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the
Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught
against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria, not the Chadian forces,
as is being propagated by some media,” he said.
Olukolade said there were contingents from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon
and Chad in the operations, which allowed “a massive move against
terrorists from all angles”.
Joint deployments and patrols have been conducted in Cameroon, Chad
and Nigeria, he added. “Chadians and other are however keying into and
working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round move against
the terrorists, as agreed,” he said. “Nigeria’s territorial integrity
remains intact.”
Security analysts have suggested that Nigeria’s President Goodluck
Jonathan may be looking for a pre-election bounce from military
successes as he seeks a second term of office on February 14.
But Mark Schroeder, from security and political analysts Stratfor,
told AFP this week that allowing foreign forces to operate on Nigerian
soil would be counter-productive. “This is essentially absolving Nigeria
of its long-standing geopolitical strength as the region’s hegemon able
to assist internal and pan-West African security stability,” he said.
…French planes on surveillance missions on Nigeria border
French military aircraft are carrying out surveillance missions to
help countries bordering Nigeria tackle Boko Haram militants, officials
said yesterday.
The African Union (AU) has authorized a force of 7,500 troops from
Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin to fight the militants. It is
expected to seek a United Nations Security Council mandate, which could
also include logistical support from other countries.
“Our air force is carrying out reconnaissance missions, but not over
Nigeria,” said a French defense ministry source. “Our support is limited
to neighboring countries such as Chad and Niger.” The source added
intelligence was being given to Chadian forces currently fighting Boko
Haram on the Cameroon and Nigeria border region.
Speaking at a ceremony yesterday marking the accidental death of nine
French airmen in Spain last month, French President Francois Hollande
had earlier said aircraft were currently operating over Nigeria.
Clarifying Hollande’s comments, the presidential palace said French
planes were not flying over Nigeria, but that France was “cooperating in
the fight against Boko Haram”.
Hollande said in May that Rafale fighter jets would be used for
reconnaissance missions to help find some 200 girls kidnapped by Boko
Haram.
Since then there has been no official comment on any French operations in the country.
France has headquartered its 3,200-strong Sahel counter-insurgency
force, Barkhane, in the Chadian capital N’Djamena, some 50 kilometers
(30 miles) from the Nigerian border. It has fighter jets based there and
in Niger, where it also has surveillance drones.
Paris has ruled out direct military involvement for now, but said it
can play a role in easing tensions and instigating dialogue between its
three former colonies: Chad, Niger and Cameroon and anglophone Nigeria.
“France is in D’Djamena. We have the capacity to do surveillance and
provide intelligence,” a French diplomatic source said.” Our job is to
put some oil in the cogs between Nigeria and its neighbors.”
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