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'Nigerian troops to train' in Boko Haram's ex-bastion | 'Nigerian troops to train' in Boko Haram's ex-bastion |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Nigeria's military will turn the Sambisa forest, a former bastion of militant Islamist group Boko Haram, into a training centre for its troops, the army chief has said. | Nigeria's military will turn the Sambisa forest, a former bastion of militant Islamist group Boko Haram, into a training centre for its troops, the army chief has said. |
This would prevent the militants from rebuilding a presence in the area, Gen Tukur Buratai added. | This would prevent the militants from rebuilding a presence in the area, Gen Tukur Buratai added. |
The military overran the militants' last camp in Sambisa on Friday. | The military overran the militants' last camp in Sambisa on Friday. |
It had become their main base after they lost control of urban strongholds in north-eastern Borno state in 2015. | It had become their main base after they lost control of urban strongholds in north-eastern Borno state in 2015. |
Many of the militants are thought to have fled to areas closer to the border with Niger and Chad before the camp fell, says BBC Hausa service editor Jimeh Saleh. | Many of the militants are thought to have fled to areas closer to the border with Niger and Chad before the camp fell, says BBC Hausa service editor Jimeh Saleh. |
In an address to troops in Damasak town in Borno state, Gen Buratai said that troops were conducting a "mop-up operation" against Boko Haram in the forest, a former colonial game reserve. | In an address to troops in Damasak town in Borno state, Gen Buratai said that troops were conducting a "mop-up operation" against Boko Haram in the forest, a former colonial game reserve. |
"We are opening up roads in Sambisa forest to site a base. It is going to be one of our training centres in the country as well as ground for testing acquired equipment before putting them into operation," he added. | "We are opening up roads in Sambisa forest to site a base. It is going to be one of our training centres in the country as well as ground for testing acquired equipment before putting them into operation," he added. |
There has been speculation that some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in 2014 were being held in the forest, after it was named by a small number of girls who have been freed. | |
On Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari said that efforts to find the remaining girls would be intensified. | On Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari said that efforts to find the remaining girls would be intensified. |
He congratulated the armed forces on the Sambisa operation, calling the apparent success "long-awaited and most gratifying". | He congratulated the armed forces on the Sambisa operation, calling the apparent success "long-awaited and most gratifying". |
The militant group, which is linked to the so-called Islamic State, still stages suicide bombings in the north-east and in neighbouring Niger and Cameroon. | The militant group, which is linked to the so-called Islamic State, still stages suicide bombings in the north-east and in neighbouring Niger and Cameroon. |
More than 15,000 people have been killed and two million left homeless during the seven-year insurgency in the region. | More than 15,000 people have been killed and two million left homeless during the seven-year insurgency in the region. |
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