Nigerian military begins massive push to retake Boko Haram-held territories

Nigerian troops on yesterday launched a huge military campaign to reclaim some of the territory in the North East captured by the terror group, Boko Haram.

Ground forces, supported by several fighter jets, deployed early Saturday, and are advancing to reclaim Monguno, the first in a list of 14 towns captured by the insurgent group in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The operations took off on February 14 as announced by the military seven days ago. The operation being the major reason the security services gave for their demand that presidential and National Assembly elections, earlier scheduled for that day, be postponed.

Sambo Dasuki, who is Nigeria’s National Security Adviser,  and the military chiefs had stated that they could not guarantee a 100% security if the elections went ahead as planned.

According to details reeled out by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the military was planning massive push against Boko Haram starting February 14, and did not want a distraction.

We could not fathom why the date to start of the campaign was publicised. Security experts stated that, it might have tipped off the insurgents who might be laying in ambush for the troops.

The Nigerian military has assured that the 6 week extension, will allow time for the massive push, which will significantly turn the tide in the war against Boko Haram, a pledge also re-affirmed by President Jonathan during a televised media chat on Wednesday.

The towns of Monguno and Baga fell in early January after Boko Haram insurgents overran the town and killed about 2,000 people, according to Amnesty International.

The kick-off of the massive push yesterday coincided with a fresh Boko Haram attack in Gombe, in the heart of the North East, in what was described as the first direct attempt by the insurgents to take the city.

There had been gunshots and bomb attacks on the city, however, fighting was concentrated mostly in the suburb but  were mostly bomb attacks and an attempt to capture Ashaka Cement plant, where insurgents seized explosives.