Nigerian ground troops have joined an offensive on the last known hideout of the Boko Haram Islamist militants, a military spokesman has told the BBC. The vast north-eastern Sambisa forest is where they have many bases – and it has been subject to aerial bombardments since February. There has been speculation that some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped more than a year ago are being held there. Boko Haram has killed thousands in northern Nigeria since 2009. Nigeria’s military, backed by troops from neighbouring countries, launched an offensive against Boko Haram in February – and has recaptured most of the territory the militants had taken in the previous year. But the BBC’s Africa security correspondent Tomi Oladipo says the Sambisa forest is far larger than any other territory that has been fought over in the conflict. The aerial bombardments on Sambisa, which is mainly in north-eastern Borno State, have been slowed down by weather conditions and poor visibility, he says. Military spokesman Major-General Chris Olukolade refused to give any further details about the offensive. Outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan has been widely criticised for not doing enough to end the conflict. But his government has now vowed to crush the group before he hands over to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari at the end of May. An estimated three million people have been forced from their homes since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its insurgency to create an Islamic state. Hundreds have also been kidnapped by the group, including more than 200 girls taken from their boarding school in the Borno town of Chibok last April.
A pressure group in Ekiti State, the Ekiti Democratic Coalition, has hailed the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba. The EDC accused Abba of collaborating with the All Progressives Congress to subvert the mandate of Ekiti State people freely given to Governor Ayodele Fayose. Reacting to the sack of Abba, the EDC, in a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Boladale Adeniyi, alleged that the sacked IGP and the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Taiwo Lakanu, aided the APC lawmakers in its evil plot to remove Governor Fayose. The group alleged that Abba was to be used by the APC to subvert democracy in Ekiti State and some other Peoples Democratic Party-controlled states. It said: “Lakanu was removed unceremoniously as Ekiti State Commissioner of Police. Now, Suleiman Abba too has been sacked. “The major lesson to be learnt here is that Fayose’s mandate is being guarded by God and He is ready to humiliate anyone working against the people’s governor.” The group warned the APC lawmakers to tread the path of peace and development rather than advertising their hatred for Ekiti State and its people. It said: “If you were using Lakanu against Ekiti people and Lakanu was removed, you were also using IGP Suleiman Abba, he has now been sacked, shouldn’t it be clear to those plotting against Fayose that they are hitting their heads against Ekiti rocks? “The fate that befell CP Lakanu and IGP Suleiman Abba is enough to tell those still running from pillar to poll, plotting Fayose’s impeachment to understand that Fayose holds Ekiti people’s mandate and fighting against him is like fighting against the entire people of Ekiti and the Lord who created them.”
Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, who was on Tuesday appointed as Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect by President Goodluck Jonathan will be bringing several years of investigative policing into his new position. Arase was until his appointment as Suleiman Abba’s replacement the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.
