Barley 24 hours after Christian leaders in the north asked President Muhammadu Buhari to present Leah Sharibu to the Christian community as their Christmas gift, Defence Headquarters disclosed why the victim is still the terrorists’ captivity.
Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who addressed reporters on the Defence Headquarters Coordinated Joint Operations, stated that the rescue operation has lingered because troops are cautious not to put the lives of the victims, including Sharibu in danger.
The Herald gathered that Nwachukwu said troops of Operation Lafiya Dole were working tirelessly to ensure that Sharibu and other persons in the captivity of Boko Haram were rescued alive.
He said: “Troops of operation lafiya Dole troops have been treading cautiously because these people are all in the hands of the terrorists and any reckless move may result in their annihilation by the terrorists just to ward off the troops, it is a very complex and risky operation but the troops are working day and night to ensure that they are rescued.”
The Defence spokesperson also countered the claim by the Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum that Boko Haram is occupying two local government Areas in the state.
Nwachukwu said that Boko Haram has been decimated and forced into the Tombus Island on the fringes of the Lake Chad from where it launches feeble attacks on soft targets.
According to him: “Book Haram is not occupying any part of this country, I want to make it clear that Boko Haram and ISWAP have been defeated and pushed into what we call the Tumbus, the Tumbus are the islands between Nigeria and neighboring countries of Niger and Lake Chad where they have their enclave and from where they come out and carry out attacks on soft targets, Boko Haram is not holding any inch of the country.”