Politics
Defence Minister denies saying Boko Haram still in control of any LGA
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has refuted reports in the media over claims that Boko Haram insurgents are still in control of two or three local government areas in Borno State.
Dan-Ali was earlier quoted as saying that the insurgents were still in control of the local government areas in the North East state in an interview with the Voice of America, VOA, on Wednesday.
He has however denied it, saying he was quoted out of context.
The minister also denied saying the abducted Chibok girls were being used as suicide bombers by Boko Haram terrorists.
Dan-Ali made the denial in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Defence, Tukur Gusau, on Wednesday evening.
Read also: Defence Minister faults Buhari, says Boko Haram still holding two LGAs in Borno
According to the statement, the minister was quoted out of context, as he did not imply what was reported.
According to the statement, “The minister was a guest in the studio of Voice of America, where he spoke in Hausa language, on the appraisal of the successes recorded in the ongoing war against terrorists in the North- East.
“He said that before now, over 60 local government areas were under the occupation of Boko Haram in the North-East, but now only two were having some remnants of Boko Haram activities and not under their complete control.
“On the issue of the Chibok girls, the minister was not referring to the girls abducted on April 14, 2014 from Government Secondary School, Chibok.
“Rather, he was referring to other girls abducted by the terrorists from the local government areas and environs,’’ the statement said.
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