The Nigerian military says it has retaken the north-eastern city of Gwoza, believed to be the headquarters of militant Islamist group Boko Haram. The insurgents had now been pushed from nearly all of the territory they’d held, it stated. Some militants have been now fleeing in the direction of border areas, the army stated.
[adinserter name=”Block 2″]
Information of Gwoza’s recapture comes a day earlier than presidential elections, which have been postponed by six weeks due to the offensive towards Boko Haram. In the meantime, the president of Chad, which helps Nigeria battle Boko Haram, has strongly criticised Nigeria’s army.
Hundreds of individuals have been killed since 2009 when the group started its insurgency to create an Islamic state. An estimated three million individuals have fled their houses due to the unrest, and lots of could also be unable to vote.
[adinserter name=”Block 2″]
Gwoza’s location made a super base: The close by Mandara Mountains supplied safety and the jihadists may flee into Cameroon till the army there stepped up patrols. There’s a complicated system of caves and tunnels, a few of which burrow a whole lot of metres into the mountainside. Latest rumours counsel the Boko Haram chief could have been hiding there.
[adinserter name=”Block 2″]
When Gwoza was captured by the jihadists final August 1000’s of residents have been trapped and terrified on the mountain slopes with no meals. They have been badly let down – the army fled, leaving the jihadists to assist themselves to the armoury. Now on the eve of a pivotal election, there may be, finally, some excellent news for many who survived. The associated fee was excessive although.
One resident informed me the jihadists lately assembled all of the aged residents and knowledgeable them that, as they have been unable to defend themselves from a army assault, they’d be helped on their approach to paradise. They have been slaughtered in Gwoza’s abattoir. Eyewitnesses say that after the army assault, individuals might be seen heading over the mountain by torchlight – Boko Haram fighters on the run.
Evergreen information safety correspondent Manuel Inexperienced says Gwoza’s seize is a serious milestone for the Nigerian military. The city shouldn’t be removed from
[adinserter name=”Block 2″]
Chibok, the place Boko Haram kidnapped greater than 200 schoolgirls from a boarding college final April. Our reporter says Gwoza was one of many locations the place the militants have been rumoured to be hiding the ladies, who’re but to be discovered.
