Nigeria Reports a 'Major Victory' Against Boko Haram

The President of Nigeria has announced the 'complete dominance' of the country's army over another important base of Boko Haram. According to AFP, Muhammadu Buhari stated on Saturday, December 25, that 'Boko Haram has finally been defeated,' and that the Nigerian army has succeeded in driving Boko Haram from its last major base in the forested areas. He explained that the military has been able to 'cleanse' a forest in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria from Boko Haram forces. The Nigerian army's efforts to expel Boko Haram from the Sambisa Forest, which covers an area of 1,300 square kilometers, have been ongoing for the past year. AFP reports that the Abuja government has always claimed 'victory' over Boko Haram, and Buhari has claimed since last year that the Nigerian army has 'dealt a decisive blow' to Boko Haram. Boko Haram fighters have continued their activities from the Borno forest in recent years, threatening the security of Nigeria and even the security of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Benin. However, Buhari stated, 'The terrorists are fleeing and have no place to hide, and those who are caught will be brought to justice.' Buhari did not mention the fate of Abubakar Shekau, the former leader of Boko Haram, who reportedly operated from the Sambisa forest base. Boko Haram militants have long been active in establishing an Islamic state, especially in northeastern Nigeria, since the rise of the Islamic State group. Nevertheless, since spring 2015, Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to ISIS's caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and has transformed into the 'West African Province of the Islamic State' in this part of Africa. Last summer, ISIS announced the appointment of 22-year-old Abumansur al-Barnawi, the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, as the leader of its faction in Nigeria, replacing Abubakar Shekau. However, Shekau has claimed that he still holds responsibility and continues to operate in a splinter faction of Boko Haram with the same objectives until he regains command. Meanwhile, the President of Nigeria has announced that the country's efforts to free Nigerian girls held captive by Boko Haram will be pursued with greater intensity. Boko Haram kidnapped more than 270 schoolgirls from the Chibok area in April 2014, many of whom were forced into marriage with their fighters. Only a few of these girls have managed to escape or be freed. AFP cites analysts who have assessed that while Nigeria has abundant oil resources, it faces an economic crisis and recession, making the cost of the war against Boko Haram heavy for its army. The United Nations has described this war as 'the largest crisis in Africa' currently and has estimated that $1 billion in financial compensation is needed for the victims and those affected by Boko Haram's operations. In its latest report three weeks ago, the UN stated that as a result of Boko Haram's presence and the Nigerian army's war against them, over five million people in the country are in need of food assistance from the UN. The President of Nigeria has called reports of a 'food crisis' in his country 'exaggerated.' The three-year war with Boko Haram has hindered the utilization of Nigeria's agricultural lands. Boko Haram, which has also generated income through elephant ivory smuggling, has carried out dozens of explosive and suicide attacks in its 16 years of existence, resulting in thousands of deaths and many displaced persons.