ABUJA—Following
sustained offensive by ground troops and pre-emptive air strikes by the
Nigerian Air Force, scores of Boko Haram terrorists have continued to surrender
to the Nigerian troops even as more have indicated willingness to lay down
their arms.boko-haram-custom-data
Vanguard gathered that
many of the terrorists were moving out of their Sambisa haven which has
received continuous pounding from the air as a result of airforce
reconnaissance flight that exposed their hideouts.
A statement by the Acting
Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman noted that the
action of the terrorists, meant to escape collateral damage, was due to the new
offensive strategies put in place for ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ by the military
high command.
According to the
statement, “the new strategies being employed by the military have started
yielding positive results with scores of terrorists surrendering to troops and
many more willing to surrender.
“The strategies
employed included sustained offensive operations, pre-emptive air strikes by
the Nigerian Airforce and routes blocked by ground troops, all geared towards
constricting and snuffing out the Boko Haram terrorists.
“Many of the terrorists
that willingly surrendered, painted images of mass panic and hysteria among
their erstwhile colleagues who are feeling the noose tightening on their necks
with the relentless efforts of troops and renewed vigour in operations inspired
by the personal leadership of the Chief of Army Staff.
“Terrorists also seem
to have an inkling of what happens to surrendered suspects as regards screening
and de-radicalization of innocent ones among them.”
Continuing, he said:
“The Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Air force and other
security agencies will continue to devise and implement effective strategies to
bring Boko Haram terrorism to a speedy end.
“It will also continue
to receive surrendering suspects and assures innocent ones among them that
surrender is the only option open to them. The Nigerian Army wishes to also
appreciate the great support and information it receives from well-meaning
citizens. More of these are required to help towards quicker obliteration of
the Boko Haram scourge in our nation.”
Buhari jets out to
Paris
Meanwhile, President
Muhammadu Buhari is due to leave Abuja for Paris, the French capital today on a
three-day official visit to France.
The visit was at the
instance of French President, Mr. Francois Hollande.
President Buhari will
be accompanied on the visit by the National Security Adviser, Major-Gen.
Babagana Monguno (retd.); Permanent
Secretaries in the Ministries of Defence, Finance, Agriculture, Foreign
Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment as well as the Chief Executives of the
Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Nigerian Export Promotion
Council.
Upon his arrival in
Paris, President Buhari will hold talks with President Hollande and other
senior French Government officials on bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and
France in the areas of defence, security, trade and investments.
The meeting with
President Hollande would hold at the Elysee Palace this evening.
Afterwards, President
Buhari and his team will also confer with the French Minister of Defence, Mr.
Jean-Yves Le Drian; the French Minister of Finance and Public Accounts, Mr.
Michel Sapin; the French Minister of Economy and Industry, Mr. Emmanuel Macron
and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Mr.
Laurent Fabius.
The President will also
visit the headquarters of MEDEF, France’s largest federation of investors and
employers, where he will participate in a France/Nigeria Investment Forum with
leading Nigerian and French entrepreneurs.
President Buhari will
also confer with the Chief Executive Officers of leading French multinational
companies such as Total and Lafarge on their current and future investments in
Nigeria.
A statement from the
presidential spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina further stated that President
Buhari’s other engagements in Paris included a meeting with African Ambassadors
to France and an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community.
It is expected that the
president will round off his visit on Wednesday and return to Abuja.
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