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Nigerian military vows to crush terrorists finally

Xinhua, March 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Nigerian Defense Headquarters on Wednesday promised not to relent until every part of the country is finally rid of insurgency, following recent wave of successes against Boko Haram terrorists.

"we are conscious that the fight is not over and the Nigerian military will therefore not relent. Nothing will be taken for granted. All Nigerians are equally enjoined to maintain this posture," the nation's defense spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade told a news conference in Abuja.

The spokesperson said the Nigerian military will not be distracted or detracted from the current momentum which is geared towards stamping out terrorism not only in Nigeria but in the entire sub-region.

Olukolade warned the media to be especially weary of cynics and saboteurs who are generally unhappy that the war against terror was being won.

The current turn of the tide against the terrorists is initiative conceived and is being driven by the Nigerian military but enjoying the backing of the reinvigorated Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which has troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon, he added.

The military spokesperson told reporters that the continuous aerial bombardment of identified terrorists' cells and hideouts by the Nigerian Air Force and subsequent ground offensive by the troops pursuing the dislodged terrorists is proving worthwhile.

"Our partners are entrusted with employing the instrumentality of the Multinational Joint Task Force to contain any terrorists who heads towards our borders with neighboring countries and preventing the formation of any new safe haven elsewhere," he said.

While recognizing the contributions of partners in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) in the operations, Olukolade said their roles really have been much limited to their respective border areas by preventing Boko Haram elements to run into their countries while fleeing from Nigeria and also preventing the terrorists to maintain safe havens in those neighboring countries.

According to him, the forces have been working very hard in consonance with the terms and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding that preceded this operation.

They are effectively checkmating trans-border activities of the terrorists, he added. Endi