The Nigerian Army says in spite of pocket of attacks by the remnant of Boko Haram terrorists in Borno North, the army is tightening the noose against them.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the statement in an interactive session with journalists at Mongunu after he personally monitored and coordinated onslaught against the insurgents locked in between troops’ locations in the area.
Gen Buratai, therefore, urged Nigerians and people of the northeast region not to panic as those attacks do not signal a resurgence of the insurgency as being insinuated in some quarters.
He explained that the terrorists carried out those attacks as the noose was being tightened against them and couple with the fact of their knowledge of the terrain in those areas.
The Army chief noted that this was so as in the last two years, not much attention was paid to Borno North in the fight against insurgency and terrorism until now.
Gen Buratai said the recent attacks on troops’ locations at Damasak and Gudumbali only serve to strengthen the army in terms of intelligence capability, firepower and ability to withstand challenges.
He, however, expressed concern about the difficult terrain of the area coupled with the poor condition of roads leading to the communities.
On the propaganda in some sections of the society, purporting a resurgence of insurgency following the recent attacks, the army chief advised those behind it to desist.
On troops’ rotation, Gen Buratai also urged Nigerians not to pressurise the army over the issue.
He said although the army was addressing the issue, “you just cannot say that soldiers must be rotated anyhow.
The Army Chief clarified that rotation “has to do with national security and not politics’’ as the army was apolitical and will remain so.
