Boko Haram: Movement under military trouncing as end in sight

A video tape published online and attributed to the Boko Haram operational leader Aboubakar Shekau, whether authentified or not, has been described by experts as a “bark from a toothless dog” and the bottom line is that the terrorist movement has lost the stamina it displayed months back with large scale attacks.

The significant weakening of their combat capacity is attributed to the effective and well calculated strategy put in place by the Cameroon defence forces in collaboration with the Nigeria, multinational Joint Task force on the battle ground and other support from countries of the Lake Chad basin Commission and the International partners.

The commander of the Fourth Combined Military Region and head of the Emergence 4 Operation, Brigadier General Jacob Kodji launched an offensive backed by the multinational joint task force to clean up the localities of Djibrili and Zamga in Cameroon and Nigeria respectively on March 16th 2016.

During the operation 20 jihadist combatants where neutralised and 12 captured while a huge consignment of war arsenal was seized. Nigerian troops are also engaged on their part of the border in a similar offensive.

The assaults on Djibrili and Zamga came after the defence forces made good of their military prowess and state of the arts equipment to trample on the terrorist strongholds of Ngoshi and Kumshe in the border area between Cameroon and Nigeria.

The persistent and nonstop pounding of the Boko Haram terrorist group that recently paid allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist movement gather steam since the start of the year 2016 and has significantly weaken the terrorists.

As the thundering force of the army is lashed on them from all directions, it has also made it difficult for the terrorists to remobilise and coordinate their operations and they are also running out of resources and short of supplies.

The group that is apparently desperate and operating is diverse ranks has resorted to, land mines, sporadic attacks that are generally uncoordinated and used suicide bombers are increasing being spotted and stopped by vigilante committees and defence forces.

Since the massive raids in Ngoshi and Kumshe sporadic attacks have become almost inexistent. The number of suicide attacks have significantly reduced the last were reported in Tolkomeri, Houmaka and Achigachia where the suicide bombers killed themselves with claiming lives of ay victims.

Lieutenant Colonel, Leopold Emile Nlate Ebale, head of Bureau for Operations at the command post of the first Rapid Intervention Battalion said before the military raids, they was a suicide attack every two or three days but three weeks after the operations in Ngoshi and Kumshe to attack has been recorded.

The Cameroonian defence forces however remain vigilant and prudent as they face a dangerous enemy that is constantly changing its mode of operation.