2-IN-1 STORY: Nigeria's Buhari Says Army Has Captured Key Boko Haram Camp

Nigerian troops

2-IN-1 STORY: Nigeria's Buhari Says Army Has Captured Key Boko Haram Camp

Nigeria's army has captured a key Boko Haram camp, the Islamist militant group's last enclave in the vast Sambisa Forest that was its stronghold, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Saturday.

Reuters report continues:

Boko Haram has killed 15,000 people and displaced more than two million during a seven-year insurgency to create an Islamic state governed by a strict interpretation of sharia law in the northeast of Africa's most populous nation.

The group controlled an area about the size of Belgium in early 2015 but has been pushed out of most of that territory over the last year by Nigeria's army and troops from neighbouring countries, shifting to a base in the Sambisa, a former colonial game reserve.

"I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the camp fell at about 1:35 pm on Friday, December 23, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide," Buhari said in a statement.

Reuters was unable to independently verify whether the base in Nigeria's Borno state, known as Camp Zero, had been taken by the army.

Buhari said the capture of Camp Zero marked the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa forest".

Army spokesman Sani Usman said the military was "happy and proud of the accomplished task" without giving further details.

Nigeria's military has been conducting an offensive in the forest during the last few weeks. Officials said in recent days that insurgents were fleeing into surrounding areas, warning residents to be vigilant.

Despite having been pushed back to the Sambisa forest, Boko Haram still stages suicide bombings in northeasteran areas and in neighbouring Niger and Cameroon.

Ryan Cummings, director of Africa-focused risk management company Signal Risk, said it was unlikely that the entire insurgency was being coordinated from the Sambisa.

"Boko Haram may have both logistical and operational bases both within and outside of Nigeria's borders," he said.

Boko Haram pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) last year but signs of a rift emerged in August after IS announced a new leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi.

Boko Haram's hitherto leader Abubakar Shekau later appeared to contradict the appointment in a video message. Analysts say Shekau's faction is based in the Sambisa while al-Barnawi's group operates in the Lake Chad area.

Capture Of Sambisa Forest: Maintain Tempo, Buhari Urges Troops

Saraki, Commends President, Troops 

The Guardian Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, ‎who raided Boko Haram’s “last enclave” in Sambisa Forest on Friday, to maintain the tempo, crush the remnants of the insurgents and further seek, locate and free the remaining Chibok girls still being held in captivity.

About 270 girls were abducted in April 2014 from their school in Chibok, Borno State, where Boko Haram has waged a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic State. Dozens escaped in the initial melee, but more than 200 girls remained missing until October, when 21 of the girls were freed following mediation by Switzerland and the International Red Cross.

The Nigerian military has in recent weeks been carrying out a large-scale offensive in the Sambisa Forest, Boko Haram’s vast northeastern woodland stronghold.

President Buhari who expressed delight after receiving news of the long-awaited “final crushing” of the insurgents at “Camp Zero”, located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest, in a goodwill message to the troops, yesterday, urged them to maintain the tempo, by pursuing the terrorists and bringing them to justice.

The President who personally signed the message hailed the courage and resilience of the gallant troops, and called on Nigerians to cooperate and support the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies, by providing useful information that will expose all the terrorists hiding among the people.

“I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the Camp fell at about 1:35pm on Friday, December 23, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide. I also want to congratulate and commend the able leadership of the Nigerian Army in particular and indeed, that of the Armed Forces in general, for making this possible.

Similarly, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, yesterday commended the Nigerian Armed Forces and President Muhammadu Buhari for the success of Operation Lafiya Dole in the notorious Sambisa Forest.