THE Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday, stated that Boko Haram terrorists had been reduced to remnants and would be completely eliminated in no distant time.
Buratai premised this optimism on intensified counter terrorism measures of the Nigerian Army to include adoption of same guerrilla strategy as the terrorists, which prevented the terrorists from possessing the capacity to launch attacks.
Speaking at the Oyo Governor’s office, Ibadan, as part of his familiarisation tour of troops of 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, he assured Nigerians that the remnants of the terrorists were being rounded up at different hideouts in the North-East and North-West, aside others who were arrested with their weapons.
“Our troops are doing very well in fighting the terrorism in the North-East and North-West. We have done a lot and are still doing a lot in fighting the Boko Haram terrorists.
“Terrorism is a global phenomenon. It may seem unending but I want to assure you that, here in Nigeria, we are working hard to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists are completely eliminated. We still have some remnants. But, by and large, we are closing up and clearing them by the day.”
“We are using the same guerrilla strategy adopted by the terrorists. We are giving them back their own strategy. We have motorbike battalion which has added more capacity to our activities, as well as the ability of our troops to move quickly to wherever the terrorists are.
“We have intensified a number of counter-measures that we will be able get the terrorists before they move out from their hideouts,” he said.
Buratai attributed the strides recorded by the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism to the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government as well as the commitment of the Nigerian troops at the war front.
He, however, pointed out that the fight against terrorism demanded long term planning, surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The Chief of Army Staff called on Nigerians to provide the army with information to aid the required intelligence in fishing out terrorists.
Buratai, accompanied by General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Laz Ilo and other officers of the Nigerian Army, categorised the security situation in Oyo State as satisfactory.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, appraised the sacrifice of the Nigerian Army to ensuring the security and peace of the country.
He, then, assured of the state government’s cooperation with all security agencies to maintain security in the state.