Nigeria’s army pledges more firepower against Boko Haram

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Nigeria’s military has promised to step up action against the Boko Haram insurgents in the next few days.

Reeling from recent successes of the insurgents in Borno State, North East Nigeria, which caught its men napping, the army said it will intensify its campaign against them.

“The terrorists who move from village to village attacking innocent civilians are those escaping from the onslaught against their make-shift hideout along the border and entry point from neighbouring countries,” Director of Defence Information, (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade said in a statement.

“The fighting patrols by air and land are being stepped up in the forests and hills of the affected areas and other parts of the north east where the Boko Haram terrorists are hiding.

“The security forces will continue to employ necessary fire power to enhance the effectiveness of the mission until the terrorists are duly curtailed.

“Meanwhile, locations that are prone to attacks are being reinforced while the general area is now under heightened surveillance and patrols. Some suspected perpetrators of the recent assault have been apprehended and weapons recovered from them.

“While appealing for the patience of the general public, the citizens in the affected areas are encouraged to provide security agencies with TIMELY information to forestall the activities of the fleeing terrorists whose attacks on soft targets are intended to provoke fear and create a false sense of invisibility,” Olukolade concluded in the statement.

Governor of the beleaguered state of Borno, Kashim Shettima, in an SOS meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan said the insurgents are better armed than the Nigerian troops and that they appear to be better motivated.