Boko Haram Has Been Defeated, Chief Of Army Staff Insists

Nigeria’s Army Chief has restated the FG stance that the Boko Haram terrorists have been defeated. Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai stated this in Maiduguri while addressing journalists on Sunday.“It is very clear that the terrorists have been defeated; there are no doubts about it,” he said. “What we are doing now is a mop up operations aimed at ensuring that we clear the rest of them. It is one thing to defeat, and it is another issue for the terrorists to surrender.“We are working on their final surrender in the remaining enclaves where they are now. And very soon we will achieve that objective.”

Also, the Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, said that the military will not persuade Boko Haram insurgents to give up hostilities.Rather, he said, troops will continue offensive against the outlawed group until they are completely decimated.General Olonisakin said this in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he is currently staying as part of his operational visit.“There is always room for the Boko Haram to surrender; that was why we put up the ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ initiative to have them surrender, de-radicalized and rehabilitated”, said the defence chief.