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| Defense Chief oversees troops deployment |
As a follow-up to CC's earlier report that the Nigerian military intended to increase rather than scale back its military offensive against the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect, the Nigerian military has carried out directed attacks on the training and related bases of the group in the northeastern region of the country.
CC has gathered through credible sources within the Nigerian government and the military establishment in particular, that there is frustration with the United States government (the Obama White House and the State Department to be precise) over perceived interference in the internal affairs of the country.
This comes on the heels of unfounded and highly prejudiced claims by renowned liberal so-called human rights groups, that the "excesses of the military offensive" were to blame for the increased insurgency from the Islamic militants.
Furthermore, highly placed Nigerian officials in Abuja are said to be dismayed that the White House and the State Department haven't learned from the Libya and other North African experiences where Islamic extremists have essentially over-run the countries in that region, leading to instability that has spread deeply into West Africa, namely Mali, Chad, Niger and now the behemoth of them all, Nigeria.
Earlier this week, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a State of Emergency in three key northern states in Nigeria - Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
On the heels of this, the Nigerian military has taken the initiative and amassed heavy equipment and artillery, including fighter jets and helicopter gun-ships, with a view to flushing out the insurgents and bring this harrowing tale in Nigeria's proud history to an end, once and for all.
The militants are said to essentially control at least 10 government areas in the state of Borno, where fighters overran the town of Bama last week, freeing more than 100 prisoners and killing at least 55 people. A few days before that, dozens of people reportedly died in the town of Baga, on Lake Chad.
Nigerian troops, aided by troops from Niger and Chad burst into the town looking for the insurgents and in their usual manner of response, the latter set homes and buildings ablaze while killing innocent civilians, with the aim of blaming the atrocities on the Nigerian military.
Behind this renewed offensive is a Nigerian coalition in terms of leadership at the highest level (northern leaders included) who see the threat posed by Boko Haram as one that could potentially lead to a definitive break-up of the country and as such, the need to employ the full and devastating might of the Nigerian military to wipe out the cancer.
More to follow.
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