TheCable

Mike Omeri, director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and coordinator of the national information centre, says Boko Haram militants are massing up in training camps across the northeast to launch attacks on the general area.

Omeri, who made this disclosure at a press conference in Abuja, emphasised that the massing up of militants in target areas was usually a harbinger for attacks.

“In the general effort to contain acts of insurgency in the northeast and secure the entire area for the forthcoming general election, the centre wishes to alert the general public on very recent intelligence reports, which indicate a considerable movement of Boko Haram recruits from such locations as Geidam, Mairi and Dupcha (all in Borno State) to training camps within the general area,” he said.

“Previous major attacks by insurgents, including the siege on Bama and Monguno military bases, were preceded by such massing up of fighters in training camps within the proposed targets.

“This recent development, which points in the same direction, has also been alluded to by the Boko Haram group in its recent boast about having a 30,000 to 50,000 strong force to disrupt elections in Maiduguri.”

However, Omeri assured the public that the Nigerian military forces had been fully mobilised and deployed against the insurgents who are being chased and roundly subdued.

“Therefore, we urge the general public to exercise a high level of vigilance and also support the effort of the military to ensure hitch-free elections and a return to normalcy in the general area, soonest,” he added.

“We also seize this opportunity to restate government’s commitment to keeping the country and her citizens safe from those who seek to destroy the nation.

“In addition, we urge the civil society, politicians and everybody to avoid disruptive and inciting statements, while assuring the citizens of regular update on the successes scored by our military and security forces in the fight against terror in the north east.”