Troops Recovered eight more towns in Yobe, Adamawa

L-R: Terrorists’ vehicle destroyed by troops and another vehicle mounted with anti- aircraft gun recovered by the Nigerian



The Director of Defence
Information, Maj.-Gen
Chris Olukolade, has said that troops have
recaptured more towns from the members of
the Boko Haram sect.
Olukolade said in a statement on Friday that
the troops handed out a crushing defeat to the
insurgents and recovered the headquarters of
Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State,
Bara, and the headquarters of Madagali Local
Government area, Gulag, from them in the
early hours of Friday.
He said that the troops also flushed out
terrorists from other locations such as Shikah,
Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa,
during the two-day operation.
According to Olukolade, many insurgents were
killed in the fierce fighting that preceded the
liberation of the communities.
The Defence spokesman said that the troops
recovered and destroyed several arms and
ammunition, vehicles and other equipment.
According to him, the items recovered
included anti-air craft guns, general purpose
machine guns, barrel grenade launchers, rifles
and mortar guns.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan
expressed confidence that troops would
sustain the gains they have been recording in
the fight against the Boko Haram sect.
He assured that the military would recover
more territories seized by the terrorist group.
Jonathan gave the assurance when the
outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr.
Jacques Champagne De Labriolle, visited him
at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to a statement by his Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben
Abati, the President said the officers and men
of the Nigerian Army he met on the frontline in
Borno and Adamawa states on Thursday were
in high spirits, well prepared and determined
to successfully complete their operations
against the terrorist group.
“We have already recovered much territory
and very soon our troops will clear the
terrorists out of other areas not presently
under our control.”
Accepting a congratulatory message from
President Francois Hollande to Nigeria for
recent successes of its armed forces against
Boko Haram, Jonathan restated Nigeria’s
appreciation of France’s support for Nigeria
and its neighbours in the fight against
terrorism.
He commended Hollande for organising the
Paris Summit of Heads of State of Nigeria,
Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad in
May 2014 to foster greater regional
cooperation against terrorism and insurgency.
The President pledged that beyond the
ongoing military campaign in the North-East,
Nigeria would continue to implement all
agreements reached at the summit to ensure
lasting peace and security within its borders
and in neighbouring countries.
Jonathan, however, reassured the international
community of his commitment to free, fair and
credible polls in the country next month.
The President wished the outgoing
ambassador well in his future endeavours and
urged him to always be a “good ambassador
of Nigeria’’.
In his remarks, Labriolle said that France was
“confident in the future of Nigeria and its
ability to continue playing a huge role in Africa
and world affairs.”
The ambassador also expressed delight at
improved trade and economic ties between
Nigeria and France in the last three years,
noting that over 250 French companies are
currently operating in Nigeria.