IDPs In Northern Borno Reduces To 100,000 – Nigerian Army

IDPs In Northern Borno Reduces To 100,000 – Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army has said that its success against Boko Haram terrorists in northern part of Borno, North East Nigeria, has drastically reduced the Internally Displaced Persons  (IDPs) population to 100,000.

This was disclosed when a team of international journalists from the   New York Times and Agence France-Presse (AFP) during a courtesy visit  to Headquarters 8 Task Force Division in Monguno.

The Chief of Staff of the Division, Brigadier General Timothy Lagbaja also shed some light on the general security situation in 8 Task Force Division’s Area of Responsibility which covers 9 Local Government Areas of the northern  Borno State; including Magumeri, Gubio, Ngazai, Monguno, Marte, Kukawa, Abadam, Zamala and Moba.

Lagbaja in a statement on Thursday by the Deputy Director Public Relations ( DDAPR) 8 Tasks Force Division, Col. Timothy Antigha, stressed that before the establishment of 8 Task Force Division, all the roads linking   the 9 local governments areas were  inaccessible due to the activities of terrorists.

He said that, ” the  strategy and vision of the Chief of Army Staff in   creating 8 Task Force Division has yielded  huge dividends in containing the activities of terrorists in Division’s Area of Responsibility”.

The Chief of Staff also noted that due to the continuous successes recorded by the division, the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has steadily reduced from about 300,00 to 100,000 persons.

Earlier, foreign journalists who visited the Division commended the Nigerian Army for its professionalism in the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts against Boko Haram terrorists in the North East of the country.

The leader of the New York Times team, Dionne Searcey, noted that they came to Monguno to access the security situation in the area and see efforts being made by the military in peace building.

“We are in Monguno to look at the security situation, observe progress made by the military in post – conflict operations and to also partner with military,” Searcey said.

Also speaking, Sophie Bouillon of AFP stated that the Agency came to Monguno to assess the state of security outside Maiduguri, noting that all along they have being working from Maiduguri,   although they have been monitoring the whole crisis very closely.

Responding, the General Officer Commanding ( GOC ) 8 Task Force Division, Major General Ali Nani who was represented by the Commander 38 Task Force Artillery Brigade, Brig Gen Joseph Iwara  stated that programmed operational activities of the division are ongoing and efforts are being intensified to restore civility to the area.

“The security situation in Monguno has seriously improved compared to about a year ago. People who were displaced are now returning to their homes to rebuild their lives and means of livelihood,” Nani said.