Boko Haram defeat not just a claim, but reality – Buratai

Stories by Musa Umar Bologi

Abuja

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has said that the defeat of Boko Haram terrorists by the military is not just a claim, but a reality which can be seen from the peace that is returning to the North east.
Buratai said this in Monguno, Borno state, during a friendly football match organised by the Nigerian Army for communities within the 8 Division area of responsibility, as part of its Civil-Military relations.
He said: “Boko Haram has been demystified. They are not spirits; they are human beings like you. And very soon you will walk around and catch them like chickens,” Buratai said.
“Two years ago when I came to Monguno, the town was completely deserted but today we have seen the return of people of Monguno and environs to their homes. Today’s occasion further confirms the state of security that is being enjoined here in Northern Borno. It is an indication that it is time for everyone to go back to his home.
“This game that has been played, the final between Monguno team and Damasak team, is an indication of the resilience of the youth and the commitment of the people to go back to their homes and begin life again after the devastating experience with the Boko Haram terrorists. I want to say that Boko Haram days are numbered. The end of this threat to life and property will soon be a thing of the past.”
He advised the youths to be studious, take their school seriously and engage in productive ventures, instead of staying idle.
“As youth you must be studious. You must go and study. The only way to achieve good things in life is to read and get yourselves into other productive activities like farming. This will help you in future,” he said.
Earlier in his address to troops at the Headquarters 8 Division, Buratai charged them to be more committed to their duties and shun any temptation in the area.
Troops kill mastermind of Christmas killing in River
Combined personnel of the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services have killed a “notorious cult leader and kidnap kingpin” Don Waney.
Waney was said to be responsible for New Year day killing of 23 people in Omoku when they were returning from Cross over Service.
According to spokesperson of 6 Division Nigerian Army, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Waney was killed alongside two others while trying to escape from the back exit of his house.
The statement read in part: “The authorities of 6 Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt wish to inform the peace loving people of Omoku in ONELGA in particular, Rivers State and indeed the entire good people of Niger Delta in general that the notorious cult leader, kidnap kingpin and mass murderer Don Waney is dead.
“Recall that in the early hours of Monday 20th November 2017, troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army acting on credible information from some patriotic members of the public raided the evil Don Waney enclave in Omoku, ONELGA Rivers State where shocking discoveries of assorted weapons, dynamites, bags of suspected cannabis, full military camouflage uniforms, military boots, military communication radios, 10 human skulls and human bones were discovered.
“Additionally, in continuation of the operation on Tuesday 21st November 2017, the troops also exhumed decomposing bodies of some of his victims in his shrine in the glaring eyes of the media who were invited to witness first hand.
“Perhaps not satisfied with the numerous lives of innocent citizens he took, Don Waney masterminded the despicable New Year day mayhem in Omoku in which he led his notorious gang of criminals to murder 23 peace loving citizens of Omoku when they were returning from Cross Over Service at about 1:30am on Monday 1st January 2018.
“Intense surveillance activities on him and his gang by the Department of State Services (DSS) Rivers State Command revealed that after committing these atrocities he relocated to a neighbourhood within Enugu Town in Enugu State where he rented an apartment and started living among unsuspecting neighbours within the community.
“From the relative safety of his newly-rented apartment, Don Waney was already perfecting plans to wrought another mayhem in Omoku in which he was to attack churches, schools, Army and Police locations and the RESIDENCES of the generality of the already traumatized people of Omoku.
“However, following his successful geo-location to his new Enugu neighbourhood hideout by the DSS Rivers State Command, a combined team of troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu and personnel of DSS Rivers State Command raided the hideout to arrest him and his other accomplices. Incidentally on sensing that the combine team was closing in on his residence, Don Waney, his Second- in- Command (Ikechukwu Adiele) and another gang member (Lucky Ode) attempted to escape through the back exit of the apartment and were shot down by the eagle eyed troops in the process. One of them died on the spot while the other 2 who sustained gunshot wounds eventually died while being evacuated for medical attention.
“The remains of Don Waney and his cohorts were brought back to Port Harcourt Rivers State by the combine team and handed over to the Rivers State Police Command for further action.”
While condoling all the families that suffered criminal acts perpetrated by Waney and his gangs, Iliyasusolicited further cooperation from members to provide useful information in order to track down and arrest the remaining gang members.

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