Army alerts Nigerians on escaping Boko Haram insurgents as troops clear Sambisa forest

By Blogger

Authorities at the Nigeria Army Headquarters, Abuja,  have on Friday issued a red alert that escaping Boko Haram insurgents are infiltrating communities within northeast Nigeria.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, said in a statement that some of the outgunned Boko Haram insurgents are fleeing their hideouts in Sambisa forests following troop's invasion.

"The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public that due to the ongoing final clearance and occupation of Boko Haram terrorists hideouts in Sambisa forest, quite a number of them are escaping the theatre of operation in the North East to various parts of the country and elsewhere", said Colonel Usman, an acting Director army public relations.

He said the insurgents'  likely escape destinations are communities within the northeast of Nigeria.

"Therefore, members of the public especially residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, are hereby requested to be extra vigilant, security conscious of strange movements or persons in the society.

"The public are also please requested to report any suspicious person or group of persons to the security agencies for prompt action.

"We wish to reiterate our commitment of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in all their suspected hideouts by the end of this year. We therefore solicit for more public support and cooperation to achieve that".

The army has also denied rumor that another set of Chibok schoolgirls have been released by the Boko Haram.

Brigadier General Usman had responded to journalists' enquiries  on the issue via a WhatsApp message saying "it is not true".

The presidency had also denied the saame report.

The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, MajorGeneral Lucky Irabor, had on Wednesday said though that "own troops" have occupied virtually most part of Sambisa forest, where the girls are believed to have been kept, there hasnt been sign of the girls. He said over 1000 persons, mostly females, have been rescued in the past weeks and none of them are Chibok girls.

"We are still hopeful on finding the Chibok schoolgirls;  the operation is not over yet. And in due course we should be able to find the Chibok girls", he said.