The reinvigorated Islamist terror group, Boko Haram is drawing support from foreign fighters, mostly of Arab extraction, who not only supply and train the insurgents on the use of sophisticated weapons, but now fight alongside them; new intelligence shared among Nigerian security operatives in the theatre of war has revealed. This is the most plausible explanation of what has probably bolstered the fighting capabilities of Boko Haram which has intensified its attacks on security forces and targets in the war-ravaged Northeast.
According to the intelligence report from the Nigerian security services, the Arabs who are coming from Libya and Syria are supplying Boko Haram with sophisticated weapons, including drone technology, and training them on their use. A Defence headquarter source confided to Huhuonline.com that the sophisticated drones and military hardware being operated by Boko Haram were actually being manned by the foreign Arab fighters now operating in their midst. This, the source explained, has greatly improved the ability of Boko Haram to target military bases and overrun them with deadly efficiency.
The New York Times had reported last week that Boko Haram was back, stronger, and better motivated, while the Nigerian soldiers on the battlefield were demoralized and demotivated. The report said the army’s weapons were in a state of disrepair. While alleging corruption as part of the factors hindering Nigeria’s defeat of the terrorists, the New York Times in the September 13 report titled “Boko Haram is Back with Better Drones” claimed the war against the insurgents has suffered a major setback as Boko Haram militants still roamed the countryside with impunity.
The report noted that despite repeated claims by the Nigerian government that Boko Haram had been “technically defeated”, “A full decade into the war, however, Boko Haram militants are still roaming the countryside with impunity. Their fighters now have more sophisticated drones than the military and are well armed after successful raids on military brigades.” The report quoted local politicians and security analysts as some of its sources.
But the latest intelligence report revealed that foreign fighters of Arab extraction were now fighting alongside Boko Haram, a development that has significantly changed the complexion of the battle to the terrorists’ advantage. The intelligence, received early last week from two foreign intelligence agencies, painted a dire picture of the battle, describing how battle-hardened foreign fighters of Arab stock have been recruited into the fight against the Nigerian state. It said the foreign fighters were being paid by Boko Haram to supply them weapons and train their men.
The development, Huhuonline.com learnt, was responsible for Boko Haram/ Islamic State West African Province, ISWAP’s recent gains against the Nigerian military. Since Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS a couple of years ago, there had been no known direct Arab involvement until now. A Presidency source who pleaded anonymity confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari has been briefed on the intelligence and he was working to neutralize the new threat posed by Boko Haram and its Arab allies. The source said: “We are aware of their involvement and can assure you that it will not make much difference. The goal is to defeat the terrorists, no matter who is aiding or fighting alongside them.”
Military sources have claimed that the Nigerian Army has struggled to hold the security cordon thrown around the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, as Boko Haram has repeatedly tried to breach it, given its new firepower. All local government chairmen now operate from Maiduguri the state capital owing to the dire security situation in the state.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said Saturday its airstrikes killed scores of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Durbada, Abaganaram, and Tumbum Rego in Borno State. The Nigerian Air Force said its airstrikes were conducted following intelligence reports that revealed the locations of the terrorists. And the Nigerian Army warned communities in the state against harboring fleeing terrorists.
An update on the war provided by NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said, “In continuation of its sustained air offensive against terrorist elements in the Northeast of the country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole, has neutralised scores of terrorists and destroyed their hideouts in separate airstrikes conducted at Durbada (also known as Bula Mongoro), Abaganaram and Tumbun Rego in Borno State.
“The raids were executed based on credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports, which were also corroborated by confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, that identified locations within the settlements that served as hideouts for the terrorists.”
Daramola said intelligence further showed that “at Durbada, a staging post from where the terrorists launch attacks against troop locations, the intelligence particularly indicated that a high value Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) leader had been harbored at the location for a number of days.
“The ATF therefore scrambled its aircraft Saturday to attack the identified harbour positions within the settlement. The attack aircraft scored accurate hits on the targeted locations, destroying some of the buildings and neutralising dozens of the terrorists.” NAF said earlier attacks on Abaganaram and Tumbun Rego, which are both on the fringes of the Lake Chad, resulted in massive destruction of the terrorists’ structures as well as the killing of several ISWAP fighters.
In a related development, the Army Headquarters alleged that fugitives were escaping and taking refuge in Maiduguri and other towns in Borno and Yobe states, among other places. The Army said following intensive pounding of terrorist locations by the combined forces of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), terrorists had begun to flee the fringes of Lake Chad to North and Central Africa as well as Sudan.
A statement by Army Spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, warned those harboring terrorists to report them or face dire consequences. The statement said the “fugitives have been escaping and taking refuge in the residences of some persons in Maiduguri, Damboa, Gajiram, Monguno, Damasak, Biu, Gwoza Dikwa, Benisheikh, Ngamdu, Bama, Gamboru, Konduga, Gajigana and other smaller towns all in Borno State. Others have also run to Damaturu, Gujba, Buni Yadi, Buni Gari, Gashua, Kanamma, Yususufari, Goniri and Kukareta towns in Yobe State, among others.”
Warning communities against harboring criminals, the statement said locals should report suspicious and strange faces in their communities to the security operatives. The Army also assured that normalcy had returned to Gajiram town following reports on Friday that insurgents had planned deadly attacks on the community. It said troops deployed to the town had started long range patrols while the Divisional Police Officer, his men, vigilante groups and hunters had returned to the town.
