Inside Boko Haram’s ‘Camp Zero’

Inside Boko Haram’s ‘Camp Zero’

More details have surfaced regarding the taking of Boko Haram’s ‘Camp Zero’. A top military source that was part of the troops that stormed Sambisa Forest, has revealed to Daily Trust that Nigerian troops, in company of Cameroonian counterparts, took position for about a week in readiness. “We were told to pin down, meaning to remain where we were. We were seeing our target, which was Camp Zero, but had to wait for orders to attack,” he said.

The source also said the only source of water for the insurgents living at Camp Zero was a nearby irrigation plant at Alapo. “Within the seven days we pinned down, whenever we go to Alapo to fetch water, we had on several occasions clashed with insurgents coming from Camp Zero, also to fetch water. Whenever that happens, we exchange fire and on several occasions we killed a good number of them,” he said.

According to the source, after the seven days elapsed, the troops were ordered to retreat for another seven days, before the final attack, described widely as a success. He said: “Unfortunately, I believe, within the two weeks delay, that was when [Boko Haram leader] Shekau and his other commanders must have escaped. But military operations are complicated, and not waiting might have given rise to other problems. I am aware that there was intelligence that was corroborated with photos from a drone that indicated the presence of Shekau at Camp Zero at the time we were pinned down. The insurgents had all fled before we got there, and we only met some elderly people, children and a few AK47 rifles, with some small arms they left behind.”

Daily Trust, December 31

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