Nigerian warplanes are carrying out air strikes against Boko Haram militant bases at Bama, Borno State, a senior official said yesterday, in a government counter-attack against Boko Haram’s drive to create an Islamist enclave.
The official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters Nigeria’s military was battling Boko Haram fighters at Bama, 70 km (45 miles) southeast of the Borno state capital Maiduguri.Army-Jonathan
Air strikes have been carried out “on all the Boko Haram bases”, the official said, adding this reflected President Goodluck Jonathan’s order for a “fully-fledged war” against the group which has waged a bloody insurgency since 2009.
“Bama today is the centre of the military battle with the terrorists … Boko Haram is being repelled by the Nigerian troops as we are talking now,” the government official said, without giving details of the operations or casualties.
The battle over Bama, and Boko Haram’s storming of towns and villages to the north, east and south of Maiduguri in recent weeks, has raised fears of an attack on the Borno state capital, prompting hundreds of civilians to flee.
“Even today, we can see so many people leaving … the buses are going out plenty now,” Musa Sumail, a human rights activist in Maiduguri who reports on the violence in the northeast, told Reuters. He said he had seen at least one or two Nigerian government fighter jets in the skies above Maiduguri.
We ‘ll do everything to defend our territorial integrity – Defence Hqtr
Indeed, the Defence Headquarters said the armed forces will do everything to defend the nation’s sovereignty.
In a statement by Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information said, the armed forces said: “DHQ wishes to reiterate the pledge and commitment it made while briefing the Joint Committee on Defence of the National Assembly to the effect that everything will be done to reverse the situation and defeat the rampaging terrorists.
“While welcoming all the concerns shown by Nigerians and a section of the international community following the increased menace and activities of terrorists, it is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed Forces is more than ever determined and committed to the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, regardless of any odd.
“It is not only the pride and reputation of the military that is at stake but that of the entire nation. We therefore urge our citizens not to lose hope or be disenchanted but to remain steadfast and supportive of the military as all steps are being taken to ensure the success of the counter-insurgency operations, especially at this crucial time when our sovereignty is being challenged.
“With this in mind, it is important to reiterate that the Nigerian military is fully conscious of its obligations to the Nigerian state and remains willing and ready to perform its duties with utmost diligence. Therefore, what the military requires at this critical period in the nation’s history is not pillories but continued support from all stakeholders and comity of nations.
“Indeed, this is not the time to despair or shift blames. Rather it calls for concerted effort by all and sundry to stop the agents of darkness who seek to destroy our country and civilization. On its part, the Nigerian military as a fighting force, assures Nigerians once again that this battle will be won.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Na today. So sorry for you Mr. President and your so called team. Merrilyn Oga, so APC is still supporting BH. Pls you carrier civil servants should dissocoate yourselves from politics, more especially, this GEJ administration. There are too many stories and lies. Hopeless Government.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably more hopeless than the Nigérian state if tour only contribution Is to attack the government. I suggest You get busy.
DeleteThis is what we have been waiting for as Nigerians. More taugher measures should be taken against these animals & evil perpetrators called BH.Thank you Gehrig's 4 providing these military hardware success is ours by God's grace One Nigeria One Nation
ReplyDeleteOlodo, it's "career", not " carrier". U go sch so? Nonsense
ReplyDeletePls make sure d armies re workg 2geda so u may avoid harboring disloyalties 2 avoid leakage of strategies. Like ws earlier mentnd Nig army belongs 2 Nigerians bt d other's thief we abhor. Let d world know dat we've a well routed nd dignifyg force 2 avoid enemies insultg d sovereighty of beloved country. But be warned; 'the end of every matter's better than d beginning.' Wth dis brakethro I believe sky's d biginning.
ReplyDeletefull scale war has been announced several time without success. hope the military will not stylishly hand over the war planes to boko haram? there are obvious elements in the army that are dwarting all military efforts against boko haram. shame to them once again. cameroon army is doing it for us gradually.
ReplyDeleteyou are mad, stop killing our military's moral, stop insulting them. We have a very good military, even one of the best in the world
DeleteGood move, any Northern Muslim who will say it is a genocide now must be arrested.
DeleteHnnnm, .... true talk.
DeleteCameroon friends in Deutschland has been insulting us since all this days that our military is week,, is it not shameful that Nigeria army can not do anything any longer to break boko haram ams,, is a pity,,
DeleteYou remember how OBJ end ODI in bayelsa state,, where are those troops that carried out that operation,, are they not in the camp again,,
Please end this boko haram thing fast,,
Abeg Mr president
You are just realizing now that you will declare full scale war on Boko Haram and you want us to clap for you. We will see, God help us. You have being boasting ever since that you will crush Terrorism in Nigeria and we have been praying to see it happen. And please stop deceiving us that this and that person is sponsoring Boko Haram go out there and crush them lets see who will sponsor them again. God bless Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteFool scale war bcos the real sponsors of Boko Haram have been revealed. This fool scale war should have been declared b4 abduction of the girls.
ReplyDeleteLet's pray its true bec we hear this stories countlessly and we really lost confidence in the leadership of Nigerian army but not the ordinary military that kill daily as a result of sabotage by their leaders n so call sleeping govt in Nigeria
ReplyDeleteWell I do hope this is true, thou possible, Nigeria has the strength to do that in fact even more than that.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is the system,its polluted, greed is everywhere I knew GEJ lead administration could stop BH, if they really wanted to but the greed in them won't give way anyway I think they are now coming to the fact that majority of Nigerians are no more fools and really its now necessary to do something about BH cause if nothing is done the president name will go on the wrong side of history also considering the next coming election or tell me who will vote a weak president into power? I think none so its time to fight.
Anyway thanks to God that the election year is near cz if not, this pple don't mind the killings, BH attacks etc even when they have the will power to arrest the situation but they chose not due to reasons best known to them.
If its APC,LP,APGA,PDP,Universities dons whatever that's sponsoring BH arrest them and bring them to justice, stop this menace that's all we asked for and we don't think that's too much to ask in fact I'm sure GEJ is gonna act or fight back cz its time. CONSPIRACY THEORY.
Mark.
Na nw day break reach where u dey. no declare full war. declare romance co dats what u're good at
ReplyDelete