Boko Haram Weakened, But Not Defeated – UN

Boko Haram Fighters (File Photo)

UN Charges Nigeria To Ensure Total Defeat Of Boko Haram

The United Nations, (UN), has given a verdict different from the position of the federal government of Nigeria on the actual situation of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambers, maintained that Boko Haram is definitely weakened, but not defeated as claimed by the Buhari led administration.

The UN envoy made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen yesterday, in Maiduguri during the two-day Lake Chad Governors’ Forum for Regional Cooperation on stabilisation, peace-building and sustainable development.

He maintained that Boko Haram still constituted a grave threat to the stability and survival of people in the Lake Chad region.

Ibn Chambers advised the federal government to continue to intensify efforts towards ensuring the total defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Naija News recalls that in February, Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Rogers Nicholas said troops had completely defeated the Boko Haram fighters.

He gave the submission while speaking during the inauguration of the Nigeria-Cameroun Military Joint Mission in Maiduguri.

“My soldiers are in the heart of Boko Haram enclave that is ‘Camp Zairo”, the gallant troops have taken total control of Sambisa Forest. We have broken the heart and soul of Shekau’s group, taking over the camp and its environs. They are on the run and we are pursuing them to wherever they go. This time around, there is no place for escape anywhere.

“We had earlier asked those of them that want to surrender to do so and we are still asking them to come out and surrender otherwise they are going to meet it the hard way.”
Last week, Nigeria had also told the UN General Assembly in New York that the Boko Haram terrorists had been so beaten that they no longer hold any territory.

“Nigeria has had her fair share of these crises when, amongst other vices. Boko Haram insurgents annexed 14 Local Governments in Borno in the North East of Nigeria. However, on assumption of office in 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari ensured the recovery of the annexed territories. Today, Boko Haram insurgents no longer hold any territory in Nigeria,” Nigeria’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Samson Itegboje, had declared while presenting Nigeria’s message at the “High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace” at the UN headquarters.

But speaking, yesterday, in Maiduguri, Ibn Chambers said: “Boko Haram is by no means defeated but certainly weakened.”

However, he assured that the UN and international community would continue to support the region to ensure Boko Haram insurgents were defeated in the Lake Chad region.

“Today’s initiative on the part of the government is to see how, at the local level, they can begin to collaborate together with the consequences of Boko Haram terrorism and violence and that means in the area of humanitarian development and reintegration. One of the important efforts is bringing back life to the people, creating livelihood for the people and the best way to do that is through the governors of the Lake Chad region. This is why the UN is here with large delegation,” he explained.