Army captures Boko Haram’s last remaining stronghold in Sambisa Forest known as Camp Zero

NIGERIA’S armed forces have secured a major victory against Boko Haram in the ongoing war against the insurgents after the army captured one of the terrorists last enclaves in Sambisa Forest known as Camp Zero. Since 2009, Boko Haram has been waging an insurgency against Nigeria and at one stage in 2015 controlled 14 local government areas. However, over the last year and a half, the Nigerian Army has stepped up its offensive against the terrorists and has reclaimed most of the territory that the sect once held. Earlier this year, the Nigerian Army mounted a final offensive against Boko Haram aimed at clearing out its stronghold of Sambisa Forest in Borno State. Today, President Muhammadu Buhari said the chief of army staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, informed him that the camp fell at about 1.35pm on Friday and that the terrorists were on the run. In a goodwill message he sent to the troops, the president said he was proud of them and their achievement. He called on all Nigerians to cooperate and support the Nigerian armed forces and other security agencies by providing useful information that will expose all the terrorists hiding among the populace. President Buhari said: “I am delighted at and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest. I want to use this opportunity to commend the determination, courage and resilience of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at Camp Zero, which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest. “I was told by the chief of army staff that the camp fell at about 1.35pm on Friday, December 22 and that the terrorists are on the run and no longer have a place to hide. I urge you to maintain the tempo by pursuing them and bringing them to justice.” He also said more efforts should be intensified to locate and free the remaining girls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014. President Buhari also congratulated and commend the able leadership of the Nigerian Army in particular and indeed, that of the armed forces in general, for making this latest victory possible.