Angered by the latest video of Boko Haram, the military yesterday drew final battle line with the sect by unveiling a “once-and-for-all comprehensive operation” in the North-East.
The full-scale ‘war’ will be heightened in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in the next few days.
Those who live in the affected areas in the North-East have been asked to relocate.
Already, troops have been given the marching order to eliminate safe havens and escape routes of Boko Haram in the country before the February elections.
The massive attack against the insurgents will be backed by troops from Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Also, the Presidency has endorsed the military plan which might lead to a total declaration of war against the insurgents in the North-East.
According to findings, the military was disturbed by the alleged claim of the sect that it has enough weapons to take on Nigeria.
It was learnt that the military offered to confront the insurgents headlong to “settle the insurgency problem” once and for all.
A top military source said: “It is now fight-to-the-finish between the troops and the insurgents. There will be a total blockade of all the routes being used by the insurgents.
“Neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Niger and Chad have bought into the latest offensive plan, having realised the danger in continuing to allow terrorists free movement across the borders.
“Nigerian military is reviewing strategy in the combat against terrorists to accommodate joint and combined operations with neighbouring military organisations.”
The source gave an insight into the new Action Plan against Boko Haram, saying: “Massive deployment of air and amphibious assets are expected to feature in the operation. Preparatory to this mission, the Defence Headquarters has changed the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division which is the leading formation in the counter-terrorism campaign.
“The deployment for the mission is expected to facilitate the elimination of safe havens and escape routes of terrorists in or out of Nigeria.
“The arrangement has enlisted the support of the military forces of neighbouring countries towards ensuring that the plan to effectively block the terrorists for elimination while they are being pounded in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign is effectively attained. “
Responding to a question, the source said: “The operation is expected to terminate well before the February 14 elections so that Nigerians living in every part of the country can vote in their towns and villages.
“However, it is expected that innocent citizens living in the areas where the terrorists presently operate are temporarily moved to safe towns away from the theatre of operations.
The Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, however declined to give details.
He simply added: “The military would not relent in its efforts to restore peace to every part of the country as quickly as possible. But details of such efforts would not be disclosed now.”
He however admitted that “all the countries bordering Nigeria are willing to complement the efforts in Nigeria as terrorism has remained a menace or threat to all in the region.”
The leader of the insurgents, Abubakar Shekau, had in a 36-minute video in the week boasted of more deadly attacks by the sect in the next few weeks.
He said: “Insha Allahu, we are going to do His work with these arms at our disposal. We are going to sacrifice our lives in doing God’s work.
“As you can see, we have thousands of AK 47 rifles, we have so much that we are still conveying them to our camp here. We have AA; we have different kinds of them that can be mounted on vehicles. We Shell Car; we have RPGs; We have mag and so on.
“We cannot just mention them. We have dozens of vehicles and tanks that God has given us.”
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