The flash news came today that in efforts of retaliating against the Boko Haram terrorist group, the Nigerian troops have stormed in Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of Islamist militants and rescued more than 200 girls and women in the process.
The news was gladly received all around the globe, yet the remembrance of the 200 Chibok kidnapped girls is still casting a shadow on the small conquest of the Nigerian troops. It’s estimated that since the beginning of 2014 the number of female Nigerians that were kidnapped stands at around 2000, with no possibility of clearly establishing the number of missing persons.
The girls and women saved today are in a clear state of trauma. Nonetheless, medical and intelligence team will be flown in the region on Wednesday to provide aid and establish the exact extent of the physical and psychological trauma they suffered. Meanwhile, the Sambisa Forest stronghold is still being screened.
Since the beginning of its operations, the damage list of the Islamist terror group includes more than 15,000 victims and another 1.5 million people internally displaced, homeless or fleeing the country altogether. While following its declared purpose to acquire power in the region and establish a hardline Islamic state, Boko Haram’s actions drew the attention of the entire world, as well global reprobation.
Jonathan Goodluck, the Nigerian president also took the fall for the despicable actions taking place on the territory of its own nation. In a shift of power he recently lost what was supposed to be his re-election campaign to Muhammadu Buhari. It is established that the silverlining of his defeat was the ineffective military response to the seizure of territory by the terrorist organization. Mr. Buhari is set to be sworn in on May 29, leaving Mr. Goodluck the chance to take joy in the success of this particular operation.
From the field, news of the Nigerian troops fleeing or retreating in the face of Boko Haram fighters are being countered by the Nigerian Defence Headquarters. The officials are announcing that soldiers are still screening the Sambisa forest and there is no retreat in the areas of Marte or Borno. At the same time, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters urged to media to avoid reporting in a manner that is helpful to the Islamist insurgents.
Image Source: telegraph.co.uk