A senior Nigerian official says an underway
multilateral offensive against Boko Haram will
root out the Takfiri terrorist group within six
weeks.
Nigeria’s National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki
said on Monday, “All known Boko Haram camps
will be taken out. They won’t be there. They will
be dismantled.”
The official was answering to a question about
what gains could be made against the militants
before March 28, the new date for the general
elections in Nigeria.
On Saturday, Nigeria’s electoral commission
announced the postponement of the February
14 presidential and legislative elections until
March 28 because security forces fighting Boko
Haram could not ensure safety of the voters.
Dasuki said he believes the military cooperation,
agreed two weeks ago between Nigeria and its
neighbors Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, will
prove decisive against Boko Haram.
The countries, together with Benin, another of
Nigeria’s neighbors, have pledged to create an
8,700-strong force to fight the militancy, which
has been spilling over beyond the country’s
borders.
A major offensive with warplanes and ground
forces from Chad and Nigeria has already forced
the militants out from a dozen Nigerian towns
and cities.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a group of
US intelligence officials said on February 6 that
the terrorist group has about 4,000-6,000
“hardcore” members.
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