Troops get eight more towns in Yobe, Adamawa back from boko haram

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, has
said that troops have recaptured more towns from the members of the
Boko Haram sect.
Olukolade said in a statement on Friday that the troops handed out a
crushing defeat to the insurgents and recovered the headquarters of
Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State, Bara, and the headquarters
of Madagali Local Government area, Gulag, from them in the early hours
of Friday.
He said that the troops also flushed out terrorists from other
locations such as Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa,
during the two-day operation.
According to Olukolade, many insurgents were killed in the fierce
fighting that preceded the liberation of the communities.
The Defence spokesman said that the troops recovered and destroyed
several arms and ammunition, vehicles and other equipment.
According to him, the items recovered included anti-air craft guns,
general purpose machine guns, barrel grenade launchers, rifles and
mortar guns.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed confidence that
troops would sustain the gains they have been recording in the fight
against the Boko Haram sect.
He assured that the military would recover more territories seized by
the terrorist group.
Jonathan gave the assurance when the outgoing French Ambassador to
Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labriolle, visited him at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said the officers and men
of the Nigerian Army he met on the frontline in Borno and Adamawa
states on Thursday were in high spirits, well prepared and determined
to successfully complete their operations against the terrorist group.
"We have already recovered much territory and very soon our troops
will clear the terrorists out of other areas not presently under our
control."
Accepting a congratulatory message from President Francois Hollande to
Nigeria for recent successes of its armed forces against Boko Haram,
Jonathan restated Nigeria's appreciation of France's support for
Nigeria and its neighbours in the fight against terrorism.
He commended Hollande for organising the Paris Summit of Heads of
State of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad in May 2014
to foster greater regional cooperation against terrorism and
insurgency.
The President pledged that beyond the ongoing military campaign in the
North-East, Nigeria would continue to implement all agreements reached
at the summit to ensure lasting peace and security within its borders
and in neighbouring countries.
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Jonathan, however, reassured the international community of his
commitment to free, fair and credible polls in the country next month.
The President wished the outgoing ambassador well in his future
endeavours and urged him to always be a "good ambassador of Nigeria''.
In his remarks, Labriolle said that France was "confident in the
future of Nigeria and its ability to continue playing a huge role in
Africa and world affairs."
The ambassador also expressed delight at improved trade and economic
ties between Nigeria and France in the last three years, noting that
over 250 French companies are currently operating in Nigeria.
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