The Nigerian military, battling insurgency in the northeast, has
had no news of more than 200 girls abducted 11 months ago
by Boko Haram Islamists, the army chief said Tuesday.
Responding to a question from reporters on the fate of the
missing 219 schoolgirls, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah
said “no news for now.”
“In all the liberated areas we have also made enquiries,” but
when the Boko Haram fighters flee they take their dependants
with them, he told reporters after a security council meeting.
“Those we have come in contact with have not made any
comment suggesting that the Chibok girls were there and
were taken away,” he added.
Nevertheless Minimah said he remained optimistic that details
of the girls’ whereabouts would become known as the size of
the territory under Boko Haram control continues to shrink.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah
Boko Haram insurgents abducted a total of 276 school girls
from Chibok, in northeastern Borno state, in April 2014.
Fifty-seven of the girls managed to escape while the 219 are
still being held by Boko Haram.
Their abduction triggered international condemnation and
outcry.
Critics have accused the government of not doing enough to
ensure the rescue of the girls. A top military officer said last
year that they knew where they were being held.
Minimah confirmed that Yobe and Adamawa states “have
been liberated completely” from the control of Boko Haram.
In Borno state, only three local governments — Abadam,
Gwoza and Kala-Balge — are still under the countrol of Boko
Haram, the army chief said.
Nigeria has begun the “final onslaught” against Boko Haram,
the country’s national security spokesman said on Tuesday in
London.
On a visit to London, Mike Omeri told AFP that “significant
strategic military successes and gains” had been made
against the Islamists in recent weeks.
Omeri had announced in Abuja last week that 36 towns had
been recaptured from Boko Haram.
Troops on Monday recaptured Bama, Borno’s second main
city, the military claimed.
The insurgency has left more than 13,000 people dead since
2009 and forced some 1.5 million others to flee their homes