Military Plans Comprehensive Operation Against Boko Haram

• Restores Hacked Website

THE Nigerian military has said it is now prepared to conduct a “once and for all comprehensive operation” to eliminate Boko Haram terrorists in the troubled parts of the North East region. 

  A statement issued by PRNigeria in Abuja Friday disclosed that political authorities, who now feel so disturbed by the activities of the terrorists especially after viewing the latest video released from the terror group (which claimed that it already has enough weapons to take on Nigeria and its neighbours), have endorsed the military plan and expressed full support for it.

  This is coming as the Defence Headquarters’ information blogsite, defenceinfo.mil.ng, was hacked into at the early hours of yesterday but was quickly restored. 

  Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, who confirmed the hacking of the blogsite in a statement made available to The Guardian, said the site was defaced at the front end. 

  “However, the hackers could not infiltrate the database of the site. Preliminary investigation shows that the attack was from the end of the site’s host. One Ima Sadiq who posed as the hacker has been knocked off and normal activities on the channel have resumed.

     “Apparently, the blogsite was targeted because of its role as a major channel for disseminating information on military and security activities in the nation’s counter-terrorism campaign,” Olukolade said.

  PRNigeria said the determined onslaught has also received the assurance of cooperation and support of Cameroun, Niger and Chad, which have now realised the danger posed by continuing to allow terrorists free movement across the borders.

  “Nigerian military is reviewing strategy in the combat against terrorists to accommodate joint and combined operations with neighbouring military organisations.  Massive deployment of air and amphibious assets are expected to feature in the operation.  Preparatory to this mission, the Defence Headquarters has changed the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division which is the leading formation in the counter-terrorism campaign.

  “The deployment for the mission is expected to facilitate the elimination of safe havens and escape routes of terrorists in or out of Nigeria.  The arrangement has enlisted the support of the military forces of neighbouring countries towards ensuring that the plan to effectively block the terrorists for elimination while they are being pounded in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign is effectively attained,” PRNigeria quoted its source as saying.

  It quoted the source as further stating that the operation would commence very soon and was expected to terminate well before the February 14 elections so that Nigerians living in every part of the country can vote in their towns and villages.

   It however disclosed that Olukolade declined to give details when contacted for confirmation of the story.

  According PRNigeria: “In a terse response, he simply declared that the military would not relent in its efforts to restore peace to every part of the country as quickly as possible but that details of such efforts would not be disclosed now.

    “He however admitted that all the countries bordering Nigeria are willing to compliment the efforts in Nigeria as terrorism has remained a menace or threat to all in the region.”