Military to liberate Sambisa Forest before May 29th - NSA Dasuki

The National Security Adviser (NSA) retired Col. Sambo Dasuki has given assurance that the Federal Government will liberate Sambisa forest from Boko Haram before the May 29th Presidential handover date. 

Speaking to PRNigeria, a media agency that distributes press releases on behalf of security agencies, Col Dasuki said the Federal Government was making every effort to ensure that the missing Chibok girls along with every other Nigerians abducted by Boko Haram members are rescued.

While acknowledging that Sambisa forest has been a fortress for the terror group, Col Dasuki said the forest would have since been liberated but for the unfavorable weather condition prevailing in the area

“Every movement of the terrorists is being monitored and every necessary detail is being taken care of to rid the country of the last bastion of terrorists’ infestation”, Sambo Dasuki disclosed.

He insisted that government is concerned about the welfare of every single Nigerian including the girls adding “aside the Chibok girls, other Nigerian girls, boys, men and women were abducted by the terrorists and all efforts are being made to rescue them all.”

While appealing for a little more time to complete the routing of terrorists, Dasuki recalled that before elections were postponed in February, over 20 local governments were occupied by Boko Haram and that most Nigerians were pleasantly surprised that so much was achieved against insurgency within six weeks.

While commending President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on the successful conduct of the 2015 round of elections, the security adviser however noted that nobody pressured the President into conceding defeat in the presidential election.

“President Jonathan had already given his words to all the security and service chiefs before the election that he would abide by the decision of Nigerians. At the meeting, he also told them to perform their duties professionally during the polls. While we anticipated that he would congratulate his opponent if the result is announced in favour of opposition candidate, he gratuitously without prompting of anyone conceded defeat to the surprise of all. By that singular gesture he had saved the security agencies and the nation of unnecessary tension and stress in maintaining law and order and curtailing excesses of likely protesters.”

Immediately after the postponement of elections in February this year, Sambo Dasuki had assured Nigerians and international community that all known terrorists’ camps would be destroyed while most of the occupied communities under Boko Haram in three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe would be liberated to allow for peaceful conduct of elections and collection of more voters cards by the electorates.

He said: “All known Boko Haram camps will be taken out. They won’t be there. They will be dismantled. In addition to the acquisition of more sophisticated armaments and training of our troops in guerrilla warfare the new military co-operation agreed to between Nigeria and its neighbours will prove decisive against Boko Haram.”