Troops Free Another 160 Girls, Can’t Identify Chibok Girls Yet

9 years ago

Troops Free Another 160 Girls, Can’t Identify Chibok Girls Yet

The Defence Headquarters yesterday disclosed that Nigerian troops have rescued another 160 abducted girls from the Boko Haram camps in Sambisa Forest, but still cannot identify the Chibok girls among the freed captives.

The director of defence information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, made this known yesterday during a conference to update journalists on the ongoing operations, adding that the troops have killed several field commanders of the insurgents.

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Olukolade did not, however, confirm whether the notorious Boko Haram kingpin, Shekau, was among the slain. He also disclosed that screening was still going on for the freed girls and other captives of the insurgents.

The defence spokesman said over 13 terrorists’ camps were overran and destroyed through aerial bombardment during which one soldier was killed and 10 others wounded. The terrorists’ camps include Tokumbere, Wulari Bukar, Gangala, Anguwar Bakwai, Jigide, Kotorima, Lagura Bello, Lagina Fulani, among others.

He called on the dislodged and disorganised terrorists fleeing in different directions and running helter-skelter in the expansive forest, desirous of surrendering to do so, saying that there is no more sanctuary or respite for them in the forest or anywhere in the Northeast.

The troops were said to have destroyed many sophisticated arms and ammunition including Armoured Personnel Carriers, Bufallo vehicles mounted with Anti-Aircraft guns, a truck and several Hilux vehicles while Anti-Aircraft guns, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and several AK 47 rifles were recovered.

Part of the speech reads, “Unfortunately, we lost one soldier in the course of the operation while 10 others have so far been wounded.

“The true identities of some of the rescued women and girls are yet to be ascertained. At the moment, what is uppermost and of priority is their movement to a conducive place where they are now undergoing thorough profiling to verify their true identities, where they come from, how they found themselves in the forest, etc.

“Additional number of persons is still being recovered from the forest. Until such comprehensive profiling is done, nobody can confirm whether they are among the Chibok girls or not.

“Whoever they may be, the important thing is that Nigerians held captive under very severe and inhuman conditions have been freed by our gallant troops. The joy and sense of hope being expressed by many Nigerians on hearing about the rescue operation is, therefore, understandable.

“We would like to reassure them that the momentum of this operation will be sustained until that Sambisa Forest is comprehensively cleaned out and all Nigerians held captive within the bowels of the forest are rescued. There is great hope for the recovery of more hostages of the terrorists.

“Already, the dislodged and disorganised terrorists are in flight in different directions and running helter-skelter in the expansive forest.

There is no longer any respite or sanctuary for them; they will be pursued and tracked down not minding the daunting challenges in the mission including hundreds of land mines and difficult terrain of the Sambisa Forest.

“It should be noted, however, that the essence of this operation is not to kill everybody in sight.

We encourage any of the combatants who is desirous to surrender to come out, as the forest will no more be tenable as a haven for their activities. In the same vein, innocent civilians among those in flight are also encouraged to report themselves to the troops. We will continue to treat civilians in the most professional and humane way”.

UN Wants Other Abducted Girls Released
The United Nations special envoy for global education, Gordon Brown, has welcomed the release of 200 girls from the captivity of Boko Haram and called for the immediate release of all abducted girls.

Commending the rescue of 293 girls and women as announced by the Nigerian Army yesterday, the envoy said “it is time to end the nightmare.”

The envoy, who had talks with the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, said the meeting was to discuss how the international community can provide air and military assistance to free the remaining girls.