Army: We can now beat our chest and say we’ve dealt with Boko Haram

The Nigerian army says it has reached the stage where it can proudly say that Boko Haram has been defeated. Sanni Usman, acting director, army public relations, said this in Lagos on Monday while addressing reporters at the inauguration of Strategic Communication Course for senior officers at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, Bonny Camp, Lagos.

He said Boko Haram insurgents no longer had camps in the north-east, and that insurgents no longer clustered in a particular place in the region. “We have come to the point that we can beat our chest and decisively say we have dealt with Boko Haram,” he said. “The situation in the north-east has tremendously improved. The military operations or the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the north-east is hinged on three things.

“First, defeating the Boko Haram terrorists, which has been accomplished, and making room to facilitate humanitarian assistance, which is also ongoing. Then restoration of law and order for good governance to take place. “We no longer have camps of Boko Haram terrorists and we no longer have them conveyed in the territories. Those that were hitherto close are now open to the extent that we have trans-border trade. “Take for instance; just recently, the important road that links Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon was reopened.”

On the inauguration of the communication course, Usman said that training of personnel is paramount, as it would enhance proficiency. “It is in this regard that the Directorate of Army Public Relations places high premium on training of officers and soldiers. “The Nigerian army school of Public Relations and Information must remain focused in the training of officers and soldiers to meet the need of well trained and skilled manpower. “This is the first of its kind to further enhance further joint operations of the armed forces and possibly international military engagement.

“It is my hope that this course will make the desired impact on all of you and explicit growth fertilisation of ideas among the participants. It is also our desire to see that at the end of the course, we turn out better informed senior officers.

“Also, they should be well-equipped to partake in making or taking strategic decision for the Nigerian army information and dissemination management.”