Nigeria deploys 6,000 policemen to combat terrorism in troubled northeast region

Nigeria on Friday commenced the deployment of a total of 6,000 policemen to liberated communities in the country's troubled northeast region, where further operations to rout Boko Haram are taking place.

Nigeria's police chief Solomon Arase told reporters in Abuja, the deployment, though still in its first phase, was necessary to restore police primacy and civil authority in the liberated communities.

"The task that lies ahead of us is to consolidate on what we have so far started. Our honest contributions will go a long way in changing the narratives in the northeast in particular and Nigeria in general," said Arase.

He added the police are determined to end terrorism in the West African country.

The police chief said massive human and material assets have also been mobilized while the engagements of the military and local communities were being pursued vigorously.

More than 80,000 towns and villages in the northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe were liberated last year by joint security forces in Nigeria, according to Maj.-Gen. Yushau Abubakar, the theater commander in charge of the ongoing anti-terrorism war in the country.

With the latest development, the Nigerian government said it is winning the war against terrorism and has "technically defeated" Boko Haram. Endit