DHQ Keeps Mum over Recent Rise in Boko Haram Attacks

Police inspector dies from gun battle with terrorists in Kano Army promotes troops fighting sect Troops neutralise eight female bombers

Paul Obi

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has continued to keep a sealed lips over the recent rise in Boko Haram attacks in the North-east.

In the last two months the Boko Haram terrorists have intensified their attacks in the North-east, particularly, Borno State.

The sect in the last month have targeted the University of Maidugiri (UNIAID), with several communities in Borno facing intense suicide and gun attacks.

Though there have been significant improvement by the military in curtailing the terrorists from carrying out attacks, the recent resurgence by the Boko Haram terrorists appeared to have dashed DHQ hopes of a complete extermination of the sects.

Efforts by THISDAY to speak to authorities at the DHQ were not fruitful as the Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, did not respond to calls put across neither did he reply to text messages sent to him on the matter.

Meanwhile, Police Inspector, Idris Musa, who engaged in a gun battle with Boko Haram terrorists in Kano eventually died from injury he and two other police officers sustained.

The three officers came under attack of remnant of Boko Haram insurgents who were moving to attack public centres, places of worship and other locations in Kano metropolis in the early hours of July 23, 2017

The Boko Haram remnant insurgents attacked the Special Police Team with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and fire arms. The team repelled the attack and in the process three Boko Haram insurgents sustained serious bullet wound injuries and three police officers equally wounded.

The Special Police Team successfully prevented the Boko Haram insurgents from carrying out their planned attacks on selected targets in Kano metropolis on the fateful date.

Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, explained that “the late police inspector was a member of the Joint Police Special Team set up by the Inspector General of Police to trail, arrest and prevent the remnant of Boko Haram insurgents from regrouping to attack innocent Nigerians in Kano and other northern states.

In another development, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, yesterday approved the special promotion of 6,199 soldiers serving in Operation Lafiya to various ranks between Lance Corporals to Warrant Officers in the Nigerian Army.

According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, “the breakdown of the beneficiaries of the special promotion are as follows: Staff Sergeants - Warrant Officers –329, Sergeants – Staff Sergeants –371, Corporals – Sergeants –707, Lance Corporals – Corporals –1,290, Privates – Lance Corporals –3,502, with a total of 6,199.”

Buratai while commending the beneficiaries, tasked them to “increase the tempo of the ongoing clearance operations of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east.”

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-east part of the country have within one week neutralised eight female bombers even as Boko Haram attacks have intensified.

According to Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division, Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel, “efforts towards checkmating suicide bombings in Borno State of North- east” have been intensified in order to prevent casualties.

He said: “Troops recorded huge feats in foiling suicide bomb attacks by neutralising not less than 8 female suicide bombers who were unleashed by remnants of desperate Boko Haram terrorists to cause mayhem to civilian populace.

“The Nigerian troops floodgates of interceptions of suicide bombers are glaring as a female suicide bomber was neutralised by troops of 251 Battalion of 7 Division Garrison of Operation Lafiya Dole on Sunday, July 23, 2017 by 8:15p.m. while trying to infiltrate through the fence of Dalori Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp 2 within Maiduguri Metropolis in Borno State.”