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CHIBOK, the troubled Borno State town seized by Boko Haram, has been liberated, the army said yesterday.
The army wrested control of Chibok where
the sect snatched more than 200 schoolgirls on April 15, on Saturday,
army spokesman Brigadier-General Olajide Olaleye told The Associated
Press (AP).
“Chibok is firmly in the hands of the Nigerian army.” Olaleye told the AP: “Chibok is free.”
Colonel Sani Usman, a deputy director of Army Public Relations, said 7 Division troops carried out the operation.
“The military is still carrying out
mopping up operations in the surrounding environment. Chibok town is now
fully secured,” said Col. Usman.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in a
terse statement on its website, said: “Terrorists who attacked Chibok
town early yesterday have been effectively flushed out. Subsequent
mopping up is still ongoing.
“Troops continue in pursuit of fleeing terrorists and arrest of the wounded. Normalcy is restored. Chibok is secured.”
The military urged Chibok residents to return to their homes.
Sources claimed the troops pursued fleeing and injured terrorists after killing more than 30
The source said: “The battle for Chibok
took almost 24 hours but the Boko Haram insurgents surrendered to the
firing power of the troops.
“What the military did was to overhaul
its operation in the Northeast. And with better equipment, the troops
were able to confront the insurgents.
“Many of the insurgents were killed and
more than 30 got injured. What they did was that as they were fleeing,
they attempted to take away the wounded among them.”
Responding to a question, the source
added: “We will be able to ascertain the actual figure of the insurgents
who were killed after the mop up operation.
“But what we have achieved so far
indicated that the troops can win the war against Boko Haram with the
active support of every Nigerian.”
The DHQ ordered that heavy security should be provided for the town to prevent reprisals by the sect.
The military source said: “Troops have
been directed to remain in the town and keep 24-hour water-tight
security because the insurgents have a way of regrouping.”
Chibok was captured by Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday night.
Thousands of residents fled when the militants entered the town, shooting from pick-up trucks and motorcycles.
Villagers around Chibok said they saw a large deployment of soldiers moving toward the town on Saturday morning.
“We saw large number of trucks filled
with uniformed personnel moving toward Chibok. Initially we were scared
but later realised they were soldiers as they did not harass us like the
Boko Haram gunmen usually do,”said Maina Adamu, a local trader. Source the nation
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