Despite attacks on soft targets by Boko Haram militants in the restive northeast region, the Nigerian military on Friday said its main thrust now is the decapitation of all the remaining terrorists’ factions.
In a statement made available to Xinhua in Lagos, the nation’s economic hub, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, lauded troops for neutralizing five top commanders of the Boko Haram terrorists.
“With this feat achieved, the relevance of Abubakar Shekau, self-styled leader of the Boko Haram sect is no longer of any consequence,” Buratai said.
He expressed satisfaction with the zeal and determination of troops to capture the Boko Haram terrorists’ factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, dead or alive, in line with his directive which is yet to be achieved.
The army chief, on July 21, gave the Theater Commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, 40 days deadline to capture the terrorists’ leader.
The deadline expired on Aug. 30.
Buratai said the five key leaders of the insurgents recently eliminated by the troops were the closest associates and right hand men of the terrorists’ group leader.
“Within the same period, 82 of the Boko Haram terrorists were eliminated,” he added, noting that the commander (of theater command) was very close to achieving the directive.
The army chief said the theater commander has asked for the extension of the deadline and it was granted.
“Given deadlines and extensions are strategic means of focusing troops’ efforts in the theater,” Buratai said.
