Nigerian troops Monday morning finally succeeded in clearing Boko Haram insurgents from their last stronghold in Yobe State.

Director, Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said last night that Goniri, the last major stronghold of the terrorists operating in the state was taken over completely after days of manouvre.

Olukolade said in a statement in Abuja that cordon and search was continuing in and around Goniri town, which is in same LGA with Buni Yadi where a bomb-making facility was discovered in the course of cordon and search recently.

“This completes the clearing of Gujba Local Government Area (LGA), one of the two LGA occupied by the terrorists in Yobe state. The other Local Government, Gulani, was finally cleared earlier in the month. This makes Yobe the second to be successfully cleared among the three states slated for the mission to dislodge terrorists bases,” he said.

Olukolade added, “The comprehensive offensive aimed at clearing the terrorists from all parts of the mission area is continuing with coordinated air strikes on identified terrorists hideouts and enclaves along with ground assaults.”

Also yesterday afternoon, troops finally routed Boko Haram terrorists from Bama in Borno State.

According to Olukolade, “The mission which was accomplished with massive casualty inflicted on the terrorists before the remnant finally fled the town lasted days of careful manouvre and efforts to scale series of obstacles and land mines planted by terrorists who have occupied the town for months.

“The Chadian partners in the Multinational Joint Task Force have been mandated to undertake a pursuit of the terrorists who are believed to be heading for the borders after being dislodged from Bama.

“Nigerian troops are continuing with cordon and search of the town and surrounding. Arms and ammunition are being recovered as troops conduct aggressive patrol of the entire vicinity on the looking out for any terrorists who might be stranded or trying to operate elsewhere in the area.”

•Photo shows Olukolade

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