BOKO HARAM: Buratai calls for UN assistance to remove mines in Sambisa

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has asked for the assistance of the United Nations, relevant Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and development partners in removing mines planted by Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest.

According to Buratai, there is need to remove the mines which have been in the forest since the sack of the terrorists group.

The Chief of Army Staff who stated this in an interview in Maiduguri on Sunday, added the army had to call for assistance because a project such as removal of mines requires huge resources, which the country alone may not be able to finance.

He said, “The army is currently doing a limited demining of routes in the forest to enable troops to move around for operations. Strictly speaking, we have not started demining the Sambisa Forest.

“The areas we are concentrating on are where we are working, where our troops will have to move from one point to the other. These are the efforts we are making to create safe lanes for troops to pass from one point to the other.

“But, for our deliberate demining efforts, it will require much, much resources, much more effort, and we may even request for the civilian demining support in that regard.

“Demining is not restricted to the military only, there are several organisations that have been doing this, the UN is one and there are other NGOs that are involved which actually work under the umbrella of the UN.

“So, as comprehensive efforts, these bodies need to be invited to support what the military is doing right now in a limited capacity in that regard.’’

Read also: High ranking wanted Boko Haram member surrenders to Nigerian Army

Buratai however said the army had acquired more equipment for the demining to make the areas where troops operate in the Sambisa safe for them.

Responding to a question on remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists, the army Chief revealed that among the three most affected states in the North-East, that Yobe and Adamawa were now almost “100 per cent free of the insurgents” except Borno.

He added that some of the members of the evil group were still believed to be hiding in bushes in remote areas in some local government areas in Adamawa and Yobe.

“We are following them. We need more policemen deployed even in Maiduguri, Damaturu, Bama, Damasak, Gubio, Monguno and Baga and other towns where people have returned, police need to really take over.

“Apart from the regular police, the Mobile Police also are key, we need them to be there. There are concerns all over that at this stage we really need the civil authority to come and take up their responsibilities fully,’’ he said.

 

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