Army’ll turn Sambisa forest to training ground –Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has declared that Sambisa forest would serve as training ground for personnel of the Nigerian Army as from 2017.

This followed the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave at “Camp Zero” by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole. Camp Zero is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest in Borno State. The Camp fell at about 1:35p.m. on Friday, December 23.

The over 200 Chibok schoolgirls were moved into the forest after their kidnap by Boko Haram members in April 2014.
Buratai made the disclosure in Damasak, Borno State, while celebrating Christmas with troops of 145 Battalion after the road leading to the town was reopened by Governor Kashim Shettima, three years after closure.
He said troops were already conducting a mop up operation in the forest after the last strong hold of the Boko Haram terrorists was captured.

“We are also opening up roads to Sambisa and Alagarno forest.
Sambisa forest is going to be one of our training grounds.

“I have already directed that we should conduct Nigerian Army small arms championship in that forest next year.

“And we are going to use it also to test fire our fighting vehicles, other key equipment and weapons that require testing whenever we want to induct new weapon and equipment into the Nigerian army inventory.

“It will afford us very good ground for basic tactics and indeed advance tactics, including but not limited to tactics at the Platoon, company, battalion, brigade and even division levels.

“We are going to make it more robust to make sure that these criminals do not come back to that forest again.”

Buratai charged troops in the North-East to pursue the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists and intercept them.

“You must maintain the momentum of the operation. We must pursue the terrorists wherever they are. We must not allow them to regroup,” the army chief said.

According to Buratai, one of the terrorist commanders, who fled to Lagos, was arrested on Saturday in Ikorodu area of the state. He said the re-opening of the Maiduguri-Damasak Road and Maiduguri- Baga Road will not only boost the socio-economic activities of the state, but also signifies that peace has returned to the North- East.
Buratai called on the troops to do everything possible to sustain the peace and ensure that the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists did not re-group to launch attacks on military formations or innocent citizens.

The Army Chief said his visit to Damasak was to boast the morale of the troops, felicitate with them during the Christmas festivities and congratulate them over their victory against Boko Haram insurgents and to also celebrate the 2016 Christmas with them, as well as to boost their morale.

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians not to panic over the activities of Boko Haram insurgency in the North- East, declaring that the worst is over.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, congratulated the gallant troops for finally seizing the Sambisa Forest from the Boko Haram terrorists and securing the North-East, paving the way for Sunday’s reopening of two strategic roads in Borno State.

He also called for increased vigilance among Nigerians, as Boko Haram escapees seek to integrate themselves into communities far and near, saying eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.

”We urge Nigerians to keep our gallant and victorious troops in their prayers, and to also imbibe the mantra of ‘if you see something, say something’ as a way of ensuring that no escaped terrorist is able to wreak havoc in their communities.
It is also important to know that now that they have been dispossessed of their fortress, the Boko Haram escapees will intensify their cowardly attacks on vulnerable targets if only to maintain an illusion of terror. But there should be no panic because the worst is over,” Mohammed said.

While commending the military for the re-opening of the Maiduguri-Gubio- Damasak Road and the Maiduguri-Mungono-Baga Road, which link Nigeria with neighbouring countries, the minister hailed Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima for his unwavering support for the military and his administration’s determination to quickly restore normalcy across the state.

”This is very significant because the two major roads, which were closed due to the activities of the terrorists in the area, are of strategic importance to the economy of the Lake Chad Region,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida has lauded the military over its successful operations in the Sambisa Forest.
IBB, who expressed delight over the takeover of the forest, in a statement made available to journalists in Minna yesterday, said:

“The takeover is a sign of relief that the military has finally smoked out Boko Haram terrorists from their notorious enclave of Sambisa Forest.”

Babangida saluted the courage and determination of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as officers of the military and other security personnel for their sacrifice for the liberation of Sambisa Forest and other adjoining abode of Boko Haram.
He said:

“May I rejoice with the government and Nigerians on the successful dislodging of Boko Haram from their base in Sambisa.

“With the successful takeover of the Sambisa forest, I hope that very soon, the remaining Chibok girls will be located and reunited with their families.”

The former Military President reaffirmed his earlier stand that, “President Muhammadu Buhari and the military are capable of crushing any challenge of the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”
Babangida paid tributes to all fallen heroes for paying a supreme sacrifice in their efforts of keeping the nation from aggression.
He urged the military to unveil a new strategy of further defeating pockets of insurgents, armed bandits and cattle rustlers all over the country.

Also, the Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the destruction of Sambisa forest is a clear and strong message to all criminal elements in the country of the capacity, willingness of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as well as the political will of Mr. President in securing every part of Nigeria.

Governor Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa State lauded the success recorded by the military in Sambisa forest and called for more support to enable the security agencies to subjugate the insurgents.

“The people of Adamawa and Mubi in particular,experienced the wicked acts of the insurgents before the recapture of Mubi by the military.
We must give thanks to God and praise the Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari for his support of the military and other security agencies.

“We must also play our role in complementing the efforts of the security agencies by being extra vigilant and providing useful security information,” Bindow said.

On his part, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue commended the military for capturing Sambisa forest from Boko Haram insurgents.
Ortom saluted the resilience and bravery of officers and men of the military in the final crushing of Boko Haram in Sambisa forest.

“Our beloved gallant troops have, once more, demonstrated what they are known for; we are proud of them and we salute their determination and courage,” Ortom said.