The spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) fighting to contain the Boko Haram insurgence has assured Nigerians that his force will soon defeat Boko Haram. In an interview, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa said, “Here in Maiduguri, members of Boko Haram are on the run. They are on the run.”
Lt. Colonel Musa spoke about the JTF intelligence and operations capabilities. He stated, “Much is being done and we are getting closer unto to them. We are arresting while they confront we engage them furiously. It is now that we are, in terms of intelligence, deficient.”
In an operation in Maduguri last week, the JTF claimed to have killed twenty members of Boko Haram. In response, Boko Haram has said that the people killed were actually innocent civilians.
Lt. Colonel Musa refuted the claims made Boko Haram that JTF were killing innocent civilians and not their members. He said, “Here were people that confronted us. Confrontation in the sense that, they were shooting at us.” When pressed about how can the Nigerian believe the JTF statements, Lt. Colonel Musa responded, “I think you have to believe an institution that has integrity, the Nigerian army.”
He also spoke about a possible ongoing dialogue between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram. Lt. Colonel Musa stated that the JTF was ready to act should negotiations break down. He added, however that he deeply hopes and prays that they will succeed.
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