Army Chief In War Front To Mop Up Operations In Boko Haram Enclaves

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, on Saturday led troops conducting mop up operations in areas formerly occupied by members of the Boko Haram sect in the north-east.

The operation followed the recent aerial bombardment of terrorists’ enclaves in the Borno State.

Addressing reporters after the operations, Lieutenant General Buratai said he was happy going for the mission with the troops.

“We are very happy to see them. They feel belonged and we also feel being part of them. It is very important to connect properly with the troops in the field,” he said.

The Army Chief told reporters that the intention was to raise the morale of the troops and assure them that the military’s leadership and Nigerians were with them.

The exercise paid-off with the arrest of six insurgents fleeing from their hideouts pretending to be herdsmen.

The terrorists had earlier ambushed another group of soldiers on patrol killing one and injuring two.

Lieutenant General Buratai reassured Nigerians that the military was making efforts to end the insurgency in the north-east very soon.

“Boko Haram, in just matter of days, we will end their activities… very soon God’s willing,” he said.

The army says the patrol was to ensure total cleanup of the recovered areas.

On August 13, president Muhammadu Buhari asked Service Chiefs to end the activities of the Boko Haram in the north-east in three months.

In the last five years, the terrorist group has made several attempts to establish an Islamic State and bring an end to western education in the north-east.