Despite recent onslaughts, FG says it’s winning war over Boko Haram

Despite recent attacks by Boko Haram, which sources say has claimed more than 60 lives in less than one week, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has assured of ending and restoring peace in the North-east soon.

The Federal Government, he said, was not just on top of the situation, but will define the end of these atrocities by both winning the war and winning the peace in the North-east.

Osinbajo stated this in a statement released by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, on Sunday. He condemned the appalling ambush, attack and abduction of soldiers, and civilians who were carrying out their duties to the nation in the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration.

The statement read in part, “The objective of this patriotic exercise is to open up new areas for oil exploration for the common good of all Nigerians. The terrorist attack resulted in a number of deaths of hardworking and innocent Nigerians, and the abduction of some.

“Professor Osinbajo commiserates with the families, relatives and associates of those who lost their lives in the despicable onslaught and wishes the injured speedy recovery.”

Osinbajo had after an emergency meeting with the Military chiefs on Thursday issued fresh directives to the Nigerian military and all security agencies to immediately scale-up their efforts and activities in Borno State in order to maintain a strong, effective control of the situation and secure lives and property.

Commending the military for the progress already recorded with the rescue of some of the abducted in the statment on Sunday, Osinbajo ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible, using all available and expedient means in the circumstances.

According to the acting president, justice would be pursued for the victims and against those who engage in this kind of unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct.

He further paid tribute to the resilience, courage and bravery of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant endeavours and sacrifices for the peace, security and territorial integrity of our country.

Osinbajo also commended the diligence of the management and staff of the NNPC, and the lecturers/consultants from the University of Maiduguri in pursuing Federal Government’s resolve to grow our country’s current crude oil reserve base through potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin, stressing that the government will by no means be dissuaded.

“Some of these extraordinarily selfless Nigerians from the NNPC and the University Of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land. We will never forget that sacrifice,” he said.

More than 50 in the convoy of specialists from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC ) on an oil exploration team were killed following an ambush in the Magumeri area of Borno State.

The military had earlier claimed to have rescued all 10 people still in the captivity of the insurgents before a video showing some of the abducted persons in Boko Haram was released by the terrorist group.