The Nigerian army said yesterday that it had recaptured the north-eastern town of Chibok, where Boko Haram insurgents abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in April, provoking a wave of global outrage.
Gallant Nigerian soldiers
An elder of Chibok community, Pogu Bitrus however told AFP that Chibok was recaptured in a joint operation with local vigilantes known as the Civilian Joint Task Force. He said the vigilantes fought inside Chibok while the soldiers “stayed outside the town to mop up the insurgents trying to escape”.
Boko Haram fighters who were dislodged last week from Mubi in Adamawa by a combined team of local hunters and the troops fled to Chibok through Mararaba, Mubi and Uba and took over the town when residents on seeing the terrorists fled.
The terrorists had captured the town last Thursday after a battle lasting several hours that left many victims among both the insurgents and the local militias dead.
Several residents said the army had fled from the assault, leaving the vigilantes to fight on their own against Boko Haram.
There was no immediate information about any casualties from Saturday’s battle for the town, which witnesses say was virtually empty of residents.
A statement from Army Headquarters signed by Colonel Timothy Antigha, Chief of Staff, Department of Army Public Relations said, “The Nigerian Army troops recaptured Chibok at about 7pm last (Saturday) night from Boko Haram insurgents. The town is now secured. Exploitation and mop-up operations are ongoing. More details will follow as soon as they are available.”
Vanguard had reported last week that after several days of strategizing, the Nigerian Military, working in collaboration with local hunters, vigilantes and foreign military advisers from Israel commenced a major offensive to retake Mubi, Michika and Madagali towns from Boko Haram terrorists.
Atiku lambasts FG
Meanwhile, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Federal Government over its handling of the Boko Haram insurgents in the North east saying “any serious government would have reacted decisively to the security challenge that has almost consumed three states or more”
According to him, “the Federal government is not ready to solve the problem of insurgency ravaging the entire Northern states. This is evident because for more than five years, insurgency has persisted and there seems no end to it.”
Atiku, who spoke to correspondents at the 9th annual Founder’s Day and 10th anniversary of the American University of Nigeria, Yola expressed regret that the Federal Government has no excuse whatsoever to give Nigerians for allowing insurgents to persist despite the material and human resources at its disposal.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration to contest the 2015 Presidential election on the platform of the PDP, intelligence reports collated by security agencies have shown that more terrorists bombings will be recorded in the country.
According to sources, the bombings which will target churches, Mosques, schools, markets and recreation centres among others, will signal the final push of the terrorists with the aim of stopping Jonathan from contesting the election.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration to contest the 2015 Presidential election on the platform of the PDP, intelligence reports collated by security agencies have shown that more terrorists bombings will be recorded in the country.
According to sources, the bombings which will target churches, Mosques, schools, markets and recreation centres among others, will signal the final push of the terrorists with the aim of stopping Jonathan from contesting the election.
“Thousands of people have been killed, many separated from their families and thousand others are now refugees in their domain, local government, states and elsewhere. This alone portends danger to the already fragile society and government seems not to be taking decisive action”, he added
Alhaji Abubakar therefore called on the people to stand firm and defend themselves, since government at the national level has refused to live up to its expectations in handling the insurgency problem.
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