TheCable

Abayomi Olonisakin, chief of defence staff (CDS), on Monday said that the military will wipe out the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents from Nigeria in a short while.

Olonisakin said this while speaking with reporters during a visit to Maiduguri, Borno. He explained that the visit was aimed at getting first class information on the anti-terrorism war.

“I want Nigerians to know that we are determined to wipe out the terrorists from our land,” he said.

“And from the Sambisa axis, we are really committed to ensure that we clear them as soon as possible.

“I am here for a routine visit with the service chiefs. I have come to appraise the level of performance in the operation and see how we can actually address some issues on the operation.

“The operation is actually to wipe out, to clear Sambisa, that is ‘Operation clamp down’ is to clear Sambisa of the terrorists.”

Olonisakin said the invasion of the Sambisa forest, which began about five days ago, had been most successful.

“The operation is on course. Like I said, it is five days gone now. The little issues being encountered by the troops will be addressed so that the momentum of the operation can be sustained,” he said.

Olonisakin said the military had acquired some anti-landmine equipment to ensure the success of the operation.

“We have some landmine of course; it is an issue we have been faced with in this operation,” he said.

“We have some counter improvised explosive device (IED) equipment and other indigenous devices that will be used to ensure that the operation goes as planned.”

Olonisakin also said the military was determined to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

“The rescue operation for the Chibok Girls is also part of the ‘Operation clamp down.’ There are five little operations within the operation: the rescue operation is one of the operations,” he said.

“Every person that had been abducted by Boko Haram terrorists will be rescued, including the Chibok Girls.”

Olonisakin said the military will also clear the remnants of Boko Haram from all parts of the north-east.

“The operation like I said is to clear our land of the terrorists, we take the operations one after the other,” he said.

“We will move into those areas where we believe they are hiding and flush them out.”