• Notorious for fanning extremism in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria, the Islamist militant group Boko Haram had been a thorn in the flesh for the Nigerian army. As it is turning out, at least according to the military reports, Boko Haram has been completely decimated now.

    The Nigerian army declared that they have completely defeated the Boko Haram insurgents. The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Rogers Nicholas, stated this during the inauguration of the Nigeria-Cameroun Military Joint Mission in Maiduguri.

    The insurgents’ tactical ground, “Camp Zairo” was dislodged and occupied by the troops last Friday under the operation Deep Punch II. As a result of the pivotal operation, over 100 civilians were rescued while hundreds of insurgents surrendered and several others fled their enclave. Questions hover over the issue of those who fled, what if they regroup and re-mobilize?

    But that question was addressed by the Major-General saying, "They are on the run and we are pursuing them to wherever they go. This time around there is no place for escape anywhere. We had earlier asked those of them that wanted to surrender to do so and we are still asking them to come out and surrender; otherwise they are going to meet it the hard way".

    The success has been credited to the collaboration between Nigerian and Cameroonian forces. Insurgents hiding in the bushes have been urged to come out and surrender, being reassured that they will not be harmed in any way.

    In another Boko Haram defeat incident, about 30 000 hostages were freed from the grip of Boko Haram, defence minister Mansur Dan Ali stated. The minister of interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, said the Boko Haram has been completely decimated, its structure degraded and its leadership dismantled.

    This will certainly come as a relief to Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, whose presidency has been blighted by the issue of Boko Haram insurgents. Among the host of issues that plague Buhari’s tenure is the problem of the Niger Delta Avengers.