The Nigerian army, backed by civilian volunteers and forces from Chad and Cameroon, has retaken several towns held by Takfiri Boko Haram terrorists.
“Our troops are in control after operations which had the active support of volunteers and our friendly neighbors,” Nigeria’s National Security spokesman Mike Omeri said on Monday.
The army managed to liberate the towns of Mafa, Mallam Fatori, Abadam, Marte and Gamboru in the northeastern state of Borno, Omeri added.
Boko Haram had captured the towns along Nigeria’s border a few months ago. The terrorist group has also conducted a series of cross-border assaults in Nigeria’s neighboring countries, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
Late last year, the four directly-affected countries agreed along with Benin to set up a joint force against Boko Haram. The initiative was supported by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on Friday.
Cameroon launched airstrikes against Boko Haram on December 28 last year after nearly 1,000 Boko Haram militants assaulted a military camp near the country’s northern border, forcing the Cameroonian troops to flee. The base was retaken by the Cameroonian military later.
On January 18, Chadian soldiers were deployed to join neighboring Cameroon to help fight Boko Haram militants.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” controls large parts of northeastern Nigeria and says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.
It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shootings and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its attacks in 2009, which have left over 13,000 people dead and 1.5 million displaced.
