Troops in Borno killed five Boko Haram insurgents and captured a top commander of the group in the ongoing operation in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad basin. Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, in a statement in Maiduguri, said troops also rescued three civilians, recovered vehicles and high calibre ammunition in various operations in the past two days.

The Nigerian Army has debunked media reports that it assisted the leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau to escape arrest after troops of Operation DEEP PUNCH II closed in on him. Recall that some reports had indicated that the Military High Command ordered the withdrawal of troops that had almost effected the arrest of AShekau in a circumstance that was unclear. The development has triggered widespread allegations that the Army may have issued the order to facilitate his escape.

The Nigerian Army has appointed J.T.E. Chukwu, a brigadier general, as new Director, Army Public Relations.

The army also appointed M.A. Anka, a colonel, as new Commandant of Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI).

The appointments were confirmed by outgoing Director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, a brigadier general, in a statement on Thursday.

The Nigerian Army has flayed insinuations that troops movement under Operation DEEP PUNCH II was temporarily halted to aid Boko Haram Leader, Abubakar Shekau, escaped.

Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued in Maiduguri, dismissed the report as “not true”.

Nwachukwu said the ongoing clearance operation by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole under the operation DEEP PUNCH II was being executed according to plans.

He noted that troops movement were halted in view of the exigencies of time and in accordance with military plan and strategy, and not to give escape avenue to the insurgents’ leader.

Members of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) have called on governors in the South-West to urgently work out strategy to check the incessant violent attacks of Fulani herdsmen in the region. The group in a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Chairman, Olawale Oshun, charged the governors to wake up to their responsibilities before the tragedies get out of hand.

The Nigerian Army has said that the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency has been largely won based on the morale of the troops involved in Operation Lafiya Dole.

Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Rogers Nicholas stated this in a press briefing Wednesday, on the successes recorded so far.

Operation Lafiya Dole is an operation launched by the Nigerian Army in fighting the terrorists that have wreaked havoc in the troubled North East region.