BOKO HARAM: Bama battle slows down rescue operation for Chibok girls

The planned rescue of  the over 200 school girls  abducted in Chibok in April by Boko Haram is on hold for now.

The battle by troops to reclaim Bama and Gwoza both in Borno State  from the terrorists is said to have forced a shift in focus of military operations in the Northeast,it was gathered yesterday.

Security  experts from the United States of America and the United Kingdom who were invited to assist in locating  the  whereabouts of the girls   have been cautious in sharing intelligence with the military because of  suspicion that such information may be leaked to the enemy.

It was learnt that encounters between the troops and the insurgents  in Bama,Gwoza and Damboa might have  accounted for  a fresh relocation of the girls to some “hidden bases” of the sect.
Said a security source yesterday:  “The occupation of some towns and villages by Boko Haram has affected the ongoing search and rescue operation for the Chibok girls.

“The rescue operation for the girls has, no doubt, slowed down now as I am talking to you because of the new dimension of attacks by the insurgents.

“The immediate priority now is to reclaim the captured towns, restore normalcy to these places and put in place measures to avert reoccurrence of the seizure.

“We are suspecting that the insurgents might have relocated the Chibok girls safely to some of their camps since most Boko Haram leaders have been sighted in Gwoza.

“We are optimistic that they are safe because the insurgents have changed their tactics. They no longer kill women and children even in the places they have captured.

“You know, due to the rainy season, Sambisa Forest is presently marshy and inhabitable for the insurgents not to talk of the girls.”

It was gathered  that  experts from the United States and the United Kingdom have  been cautious in sharing intelligence with the military because of likely leakage to Boko Haram due to alleged infiltration of the troops.

Another source added: “These foreign powers came in to assist but there is suspicion that corruption, mutual rivalry and ethno-religious factor within the military have caused leakage of some intelligence reports.

“So, these experts have adopted a cautious approach on the rescue of Chibok girls and how to tackle Boko Haram insurgency generally. It is difficult to secure 100 per cent confidence of some military officers. No one knows who is working for the sect.”

Meanwhile, the military yesterday sustained aerial attacks against the insurgents in Bama and Gwoza.
A top military source said: “The battle in Bama is almost won because the aerial power has led to the death of many insurgents. We will keep on shelling them until they surrender.

“All their so-called land to surface missiles have been destroyed by the fighter jets. Once we regain the control of Bama, Nigerians will know the heavy casualties recorded by the insurgents and appreciate the nation’s military.”