Nigeria Launches Special Military Force Against Boko Haram

ABUJA, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- Nigeria on Tuesday launched a special military force to enhance security network against terror group Boko Haram, particularly in the northeast region, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Named "special mobile strike force," the troops deployed from various military units, are expected to bring vigour into the renewed onslaught against Boko Haram, said Ibrahim Attahiru, commander of troops in the theatre of operation in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.

Attahiru told reporters in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, that the special military team became necessary as one of the new approaches evolved by the military to end acts of terrorism in the West African country.

According to him, soldiers deployed to the force were exposed to modern terrorism combat techniques to enable them to crush the Boko Haram fighters, deny them freedom of action and finally decimate them.

"This specially selected force with mixed equipment and platforms were deployed to achieve the conduct of long range patrols and ambush deep into the hinterlands," he said.

The Nigerian troops, which aimed to clear unrepentant Boko Haram fighters from the shores of the most populous African country, have been sustaining the tempo in their fight against terrorists.

In the past two months, the Nigerian troops had intensified its campaign against the terrorists, killing and arresting dozens of Boko Haram fighters. A bomb factory in Borno was also destroyed.

Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 and displaced 2.3 million people in its attacks since 2009.

-- BERNAMA

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