TheCable

Sambo Dasuki, the national security adviser (NSA), is certain that security agencies would liberate Sambisa forest, Boko Haram’s fortress, before May 29, 2015 when President Goodluck Jonathan would hand over to Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking with PR Nigeria, a media consultancy agency to Nigerian security outfits, Dasuki said all Boko Haram camps, save Sambisa, had fallen.

“Right now, all Boko Haram camps, except Sambisa Forest, have been destroyed,” he said.

“Every movement of the terrorists is being monitored and every necessary detail is being taken care of to rid the country of the last bastion of terrorists’ infestation.”

When queried on the efforts of the Nigerian security agencies on the rescue of Chibok girls, he said efforts were ongoing not just to rescue the schoolgirls but everyone who had been abducted by the sect.

“Aside the Chibok girls, other Nigerian girls, boys, men and women were abducted by the terrorists and all efforts are being made to rescue them all.”

The retired colonel said the president’s concession call saved a lot of security agencies the trouble of having to deal with “unnecessary tension”.

“President Jonathan had already given his words to all the security and service chiefs before the election that he would abide by the decision of Nigerians,” he said.

“At the meeting, he also told them to perform their duties professionally during the polls. While we anticipated that he would congratulate his opponent if the result was announced in favour of opposition candidate, he gratuitously, without the prompting of anyone, conceded defeat to the surprise of all.

“By that singular gesture, he had saved the security agencies and the nation of unnecessary tension and stress in maintaining law and order and curtailing excesses of likely protesters.”

Dasuki expressed optimism that the next administration, to be led by Buhari, would not have to deal with Boko Haram camps.

“All known Boko Haram camps will be taken out. They won’t be there; they will be dismantled,” he said.

“In addition to the acquisition of more sophisticated armaments and training of our troops in guerrilla warfare, the new military cooperation agreed to between Nigeria and its neighbours will prove decisive against Boko Haram.”