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Tag: sambisa

  • There is no elephant in Sambisa forest – official

    There is no elephant in Sambisa forest – official

    The Borno government says there is no presence of elephants in the Sambisa forest.

    Mr Ayuba Peter, Director, Forestry and Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment, told NAN, that the last survey made by government regarding the presence of elephants in the forest, showed that there was none.

    “We conducted a survey before the Boko Haram insurgency and found that its population has been depleted by activities of poachers.

    “We used to have a herd of elephants in Sambisa forest, but due to poaching and other habitat destruction, we have lost them.

    “When we started having reports of their incursions from a neighbouring Cameroon forest into Borno, through Gamboru/Ngala and Kala-Balge axis, we were excited.

    “Our hope was that they would proceed to Sambisa forest and probably find a more habitable place.

    “So far, they have continued to roam around the border areas destroying farmlands but without moving down to Sambisa,” Peter said.

  • Video: Feast in Sambisa as troops destroy Shekau’s farm, invite locals for harvest

    Video: Feast in Sambisa as troops destroy Shekau’s farm, invite locals for harvest

    Troops of the Nigerian Army in Bama, Maiduguri, Borno State has taken over the farm allegedly belonging to Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

    In series of pictures and videos release by the Nigerian Military on Saturday afternoon, the troops where seen jubilating in the terrorist leader’s farm alongside locals who where invited to help themselves with all that is edible in the farm.

    The troops while jubilating where heard chanting in Hausa language calling out Shakau to show himself and come out to fight like a man instead of hiding in the thick Forest.

    “Here we are in your farm, Shekau, we a having our Jumaat prayer in your farm, come out and stop hiding let’s fight like men….” the soldiers said while shooting in the air in Jubilation.

  • PHOTOS: Army troops tour Sambisa, other recaptured communities

    PHOTOS: Army troops tour Sambisa, other recaptured communities

    In continuation of its onslaught on Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, the Nigerian Army has embarked on a victory tour around recaptured communities.

    The gallant troops were pictured enjoying a smooth sail from Sambisa to Damboa and Alagarno all in Borno State.

    In one of the photos which has gone viral on social, the troops showed ingenuity, displaying tactical engineering to improvise a fording raft.

    The Army were seen moving deep into the swamps of the Borno/Yobe forests to smoke out the remnants of the criminal BHT/ISWAP elements

    This comes after the troops of Sector 3 supported by the Air Task Force (ATF) successfully repelled an attack on Gubio in Gubio LGA of Borno State.

    The gallant troops neutralized two of the criminal insurgents and recovered one Gun Truck, 2 AK 47 Rifles, one Anti Air Craft Gun.

    No fewer than 50 civilians held hostage by the criminals were rescued during the encounter.

    The troops continue to dominate the area with fighting/clearing patrols, ambush, raids as well as cordon and search operations.

     

  • Boko Haram: Army to convert Sambisa Forest to Ecosystem Resort Centre

    The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Tukur Buratai, says the Nigerian Army intends to convert Sambisa Forest and 13 others into an Ecosystem Resort Centre where war relics in the North East will be maintained as historical sites for tourism.

    Buratai also revealed that the army had also commenced Exercise Harbin Kunama IV to chase bandits and insurgents out of forests in Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states.

    He made these known in Abuja, in a keynote address at a seminar on regimentation and combating security challenges associated with forests and protected areas. This seminar was organised by the army headquarters.

    The army chief, who was represented by Maj. Gen. Ali Nani, Chief of Policy and plans, listed the forests as Kuyan Bana, Dan Saudau and Sububu (Zamfara); Pandogari and Kagara (Niger); Allargano, Sambisa and Chingurmi-Bugama (Borno).

    Others are Guljba (Yobe), Rugu (Katsina), as well as Lame Bura and Balmo (Bauchi).

    While the game reverses are Allawa and Falgore in Kano State.

    The army chief said: “National parks are designated protected areas that are defined to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated services and cultural values.

    “These parks provide a safe haven for our animals and native plants. They also serve as places of tourism that could be a source of foreign exchange earnings.

    “The aim is to flush out bandits and insurgents from some identified forest areas.”

  • I stayed in Sambisa for three years – Says arrested female bomber

    A 19-year-old lady, Shaidatu Adamu, has been arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army attached to the Operation Lafiya Dole, while allegedly trying to detonate her suicide bomb vest in the Gonikalachari area of Borno State.

    According to reports gathered by TheNewsGuru, TNG, Adamu was nabbed by troops of the 251 Task Force Battalion, Maiduguri, on Tuesday.

    She was reportedly stopped while on a mission to bomb civilians at a location in the Maiduguri metropolis.

    The lady, who claimed to be from Gwoza, told the army upon interrogation that she had been in the Sambisa forest with the Boko Haram terrorists for three years.

    According to her, she was sent by the sect to carry out a lone suicide mission.

    The army confirmed Adamu’s arrest and confessions on its Twitter page.

    In the tweet, the army said, “Troops have arrested a female suicide bomber at Gonikalachari. The troops arrested the teenager, who attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri to detonate her suicide vest and inflict maximum casualties on Nigerians.

    “Upon interrogation, she said she was sent on a lone mission. She confessed that she had been in the Sambisa forest for about three years.

    “Consequently, troops from the 47 Explosive Ordinance Device Battalion were invited to diffuse the explosives. She has been transferred to the 7 Military Intelligence Brigade, Maiduguri for further investigation.”

  • I can make Shekau surrender – Ex-Boko Haram commander

    A 32 year-old former Boko Haram Commander, Rawana Goni, has appealed to the Nigerian military authorities to allow him make a phone call to the elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau and at least 137 other terrorists to make them surrender.

    Goni, who is undergoing rehabilitation at a military detention camp in Maiduguri, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The former Boko Haram commander is an indigene of Bama in Borno state. He surrendered to the military in Cameroon after escaping from Sambisa Forest eight months ago.

    He claimed to have held several positions in ten different cells of Boko Haram in Sambisa. He said the last position he held was as the Chief officer of Dispute Resolution for the group. He explained that many militants came to him to settle problems ranging from family matters. He also reconciled Boko Haram factions.

    “I rescued people sentenced to death and minimised punishment of those who committed crimes. I am one of the most influential persons in the group and they always listened and abided by what I said.

    “I joined Boko Haram because of the condition I found myself in the last five years. When the insurgents invaded Bama town, I ran with my family to Cameroon thinking I was in a safe destination. But on reaching Cameroon, I was shocked to realise that I brought myself into another Boko Haram camp. By that time, I knew I would not survive without joining the group.

    “Days after my induction, we opened a permanent camp at the Cameroon border and named the forest “Aluska”. It was in that camp that I learnt all types of trainings including handling weapons.

    “After the training, we embarked on our first mission.We invaded a military formation in Cameroon, dislodged the soldiers and took many weapons from their armoury. We couldn’t take any vehicle because the area was surrounded by river.

    “We took the weapons we recovered to our leader Abubakar Shekau and briefed him on our success. He was happy that five of us could dislodge a military formation. After congratulating us, he appointed me to lead the group and returned our weapons to us.

    “Few days later, I recruited many fighters, because as a commander, you are expected to have no fewer than 250 fighting troops.

    “With the new fighting force, we invaded Waza village, Damaga and Banki. We also invaded Bama which is my hometown.

    “I was touched to see my people being tortured and killed, while many women and children were living in excruciating hardship. So I decided to pass a message to my fellow insurgents from Bama and we formed a group comprising of about 137 persons to help our people in prison to escape.

    “I was able to rescue about 300 hostages at the prison facility in Bama. I usually lied to the guards at the prison that I was going to kill the inmates. But I would take them to a safe place in Konduga and ask them to run to a safer destination.

    “Many of the prisoners were exposed to hard labour while some were used as guinea-pigs at shooting range by new arms handlers among Boko Haram,”he said.

    On Abubakar Shekau’s health status, Goni told NAN that the insurgents’ leader was healthy as against a report that he was ill.

    “Nothing happened to him. He broke his leg five years ago while riding on a horse. But he had since recovered. Any one saying Shekau is sick is only deceiving himself. We used to communicate through radiophone but not any more,”he said.

    Goni who believed that the war was coming to an end, urged the military to let him tell Shekau and other insurgents that he is still alive.

    “My 137 boys are on standby to hear I am still alive and I can assure you they will run out of Sambisa Forest and surrender to the military. I once told them to surrender and they said we shall all get killed.But I told them that I will surrender and they said if nothing happened to me, they will all come out,” he said.

    Goni commended the military for the special treatment given to inmates who surrendered.

    “They received us with joy and interact with us at all time. They feed us well and always want to know our problems. If other Boko Haram members knew how we are being treated, they will never want to remain where they are,”he said.

     

  • Troops kill four Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa

    …neutralise four other suicide bombers

    Nigerian Army on Saturday said its troops killed four Boko Haram insurgents at Malumti village in the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

    Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu stated that the insurgents were killed by troops in an ambush while trying to escape ongoing clearance exercise under “Operation Deep Punch II” on March 30.

    He said the troops recovered a Toyota Land Cruiser, one AK 47 Rifle , 15 Rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one magazine and 47 Jerry cans of petrol from the insurgents.

    He added that “the insurgents were routed out of the Sambisa Forest by troops under Operation Deep Punch II, rummaging for food and logistics when they met their Waterloo.”

    Nwachukwu disclosed that gallant troops deployed at a checkpoint in Muna Garage in the outskirts of Maiduguri also neutralised four suicide bombers on Friday.

    He explained that the bombers, comprising a male and three females were killed while attempting to infiltrate Maiduguri metropolis.

    He noted that “the insurgents, attempting to infiltrate Maiduguri metropolis through Muna Zawiya area at about 9.30 p.m., were spotted by vigilance troops who fired shots, hitting one of them, thereby triggering simultaneous explosions which killed all of them.

    “Regrettably, 18 persons were injured in the incident and have been evacuated for medical attention.”

    According to him, troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were conducting cordon and search operation in the area for any other suicide bomber lurking around.

    Nwachukwu urged the public to be vigilant and report suspicious persons and activities to security agencies.

     

  • Troops kill 5 Boko Haram insurgents, cleared more enclaves in Sambisa Forest

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said its troops killed five Boko Haram insurgents in the ongoing clearance operation in Sambisa Forest.

    Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, said in a statement issued in Maiduguri, that the troops also cleared various enclaves of the insurgents.

    Nwachukwu disclosed that the troops under Operation DEEP PUNCH II had cleared insurgents’ hideouts at Agapulawa; Amuda, Nyawa and Attagara in Sambisa Forest.

    He said troops killed the five insurgents at Tchikide and Chinene in the Lake Chad region.

    Nwachukwu said that two soldiers were killed and two others wounded when an insurgents’ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) vehicle hit their military vehicle.

    He said that the wounded soldiers were evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment.

    “In continuation of the “On Tuesday 28, February, 2018; troops successfully cleared and dismantled insurgents’ camps at Agapulawa, Amuda, Nyawa and Attagara in the remaining parts of Sambisa Forest.

    “The clearance operations progressed further into other identified insurgents’ camps around Tchikide and Chinene, where the troops ferociously engaged and cleared pockets of resistance by the insurgents and killed five of them,” he said.

    According to him, the gallant troops had reorganized and resumed operation and assured Nigerians of the military’s commitments to the successful completion of counter-insurgency operation in the region.

     

  • [New video] Shekau mocks Nigeria army, says Boko Haram still owns Sambisa

    Boko Haram leader, Shekau has appeared in a new video, days after the military said the sect has been completely defeated.

    Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, had made the claim last weekend.

    He disclosed that hundreds of insurgents surrendered, several others fled their enclave, while over 100 civilians were rescued.

    “My soldiers are in the heart of Boko Haram enclave that is Camp Zairo, the gallant troops have taken total control of Sambisa Forest.

    “We have broken the heart and soul of Shekau’s group, taking over the camp and its environs.

    But in a new footage, Shekau threatened more violence in the region, insisting that his men were still in Sambisa, if not, “where are the police wives that ‘are being arrested by us’”.

    Ahmad Sakilda, a journalist known for his coverage of the sect, also confirmed the new video on Twitter.

    “Abubakar Shekau looks and sounded weary in his latest video, but is he really the trouble now? The insurgency has developed beyond his reach. No doubt, #ISWAP is the future of the insurgency that we all have to contend with in the upcoming years”, he tweeted.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeSZ2iYlm6U

  • Army, NAF invade Sambisa, kill several terrorists

    …destroy sophisticated arms

    Troops of the Nigerian Army has neutralised seven remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa forest and Northern Borno on Friday in an operation supported by the Air Force.

    According to a statement by Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations of the Army late Friday, troops also destroyed 11 gun trucks and 12 Hilux vehicles during the operation.

    Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, said other terrorists’ equipment destroyed were make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), booby traps and other delaying obstacles and devices.

    “In addition, the gallant troops recovered one gun truck, one anti-aircraft gun, one machine gun, a pistol, large quantity of anti-aircraft gun ammunition, a 120mm mortar base Plate and a dane gun,” he said.

    Mr. Usman added that three canter trucks, two double barrel rifles, 30 bicycles, power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop were also destroyed by troops.

    “Unfortunately, two soldiers were wounded during the encounter.

    “The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment,” the army spokesman said.

    He said the GOC 7 Division and Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade, Maj.-Gen. I. M. Yusuf, and Maj.-Gen. I. M. Obot, have visited the troops and commended them on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for a job well done.

    Mr. Usman urged the people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities.

    He also urged them to look out for the wounded terrorists and report to the nearest military or Police location.