War against Boko Haram in Lake Chad over, says Buratai

Chief of Army staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai PHOTO: NAN

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai has declared that the war against Boko Haram insurgency is over.

According to him, what is left for the troops to do is stabilize areas that have serious security challenges and prepare to crush any such insurrection in the future.

Buratai made the declaration at the weekend while addressing troops of 8 Task Force Division of the Nigerian Army, Monguno. He said the days of Boko Haram insurgents were numbered despite the occasional attacks on soft targets in the Northeast.

“This division has lived up to expectation of containing the Boko Haram challenges in this part of the country. You are not the only ones operating here; we have the Nigerian Air Force which has been giving us aerial support.

“The establishment of this division was strategic. It has helped in addressing the challenges of Boko Haram terrorists in the northern part of Borno State. We must remain here to stabilize it,” he said.

Buratai, who noted that the Lake Chad region has always been volatile, said it was the reason the Lake Chad Basin
Commission (LCBC) created the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to tackle threats to security.

He urged the troops to perform similar duties, even after the final clearance of Boko Haram insurgents. He said the army was working hard to make the operational environment more conducive.

The army boss said with the defeat of Boko Haram in northern Borno, troops of 8 Task Force would be deployed to Sokoto State in the North-west for operations. Some of them will remain in Monguno to maintain security.