Abubakar Shekau's hideout because the sect is using the Chibok girls
as shield, it was learnt yesterday.
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, on Wednesday visited
Chad to seek clarifications on some issues and map out plans with
multi-national force on what a source described as the final onslaught
against Boko Haram.
The military source, who spoke in confidence with The Nation
correspondent, said Shekau and some members of his Shura Committee -
the sect's highest policy making body - had been shuttling between
Sambisa Forest and strategic locations, such as Gwoza and Bama.
The Chadian President, Idris Deby said Shekau's convoy was sighted in
Dikwa on Tuesday.
But the military source explained that Shekau has a strong base in
Gwoza with a special armoured tank.
The source said: "Troops have located what I may call Shekau's bunker
but they cannot strike because some of the Chibok girls are being used
as shield by the leaders of Boko Haram.
"We want to do a clinical job with limited damage because the whole
world is awaiting the safe return of the Chibok girls.
" The ability of the troops to rescue some of the girls will earn more
credit to the success of Nigerian military against the insurgents.
"We are also being extremely careful to avoid any military assault
which may force Shekau to turn against the Chibok girls and other
hostages in Boko Haram's camps in the Northeast.
According to the source, intelligence report has indicated that recent
bombings in Jos and other cities were borne out of anger against the
military for reclaiming over 40 occupied territories and killing more
than 300 insurgents."
Air Marshal Badeh on Wednesday met with the Chadian military hierarchy.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: " The session was used to
iron out alleged claims by Chadian military that Nigerian troops were
frustrating its collaborating troops in the Northeast.
"At the meeting, the Chadian military denied issuing such statement.
Instead, it restated its commitment to collaboration with Nigeria to
rout out the insurgents from the Northeast and the sub-region.
"After ironing out the misgivings, the CDS and Chadian counterpart
later mapped out plans with the multi-national force on the final
onslaught against Boko Haram.
"We are likely to see enhanced synergy between Nigerian troops and
their Chadian counterparts in the next few days."
--TheNation
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