Chadian Soldiers Not Violating Nigeria's Integrity-DHQ

The Defence Headquarters on Tuesday denied media
reports that troops from foreign countries operating in the
ongoing campaign against the insurgency in the North-
East were violating the nation’s territorial integrity.
The Defence authorities stated in a statement posted on
the official web site of the military that the involvement of
troops from Chad, Niger and Cameroon had not in any
way compromised the territorial integrity of the country.
It was stated that contrary to insinuations in some
quarters that the foreign forces were moving into parts of
the North-East without authorisation from the Defence
Headquarters, Nigerian Forces were in charge of the
planning and prosecution of the campaign within the
country.
It was added that while Chadian Forces had been
deployed in Baga Sola, a Chadian territory, there had been
a joint deployment of troops from the participating
countries in Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other areas along
the borders of Nigeria Chad and Cameroon.
“The Multinational Joint Task Force in which Nigeria,
Niger, Cameroon, and Chad have contingents that are
part of the ongoing onslaught against terrorists in this
region.
“The countries that make up the Lake Chad Basin
Commission also had some understanding, which now
enables a massive move against terrorists from all
angles.
“Contrary to the impression being pushed in some
quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are
driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all
fronts in Nigeria; not the Chadian Forces as is being
propagated by some media.
“For instance, Chadian forces have been deployed in
Baga Sola, which is a Chadian territory.
“There have been some joint deployments and patrols
around Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other locations in borders
of Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad as part of these
operations.
“Chadians and others are however keying into and
working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round
move against the terrorists as agreed.
“Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains intact,” the
statement read.
Although, the military authorities have been quiet about
the intensified military operations in the North-East,
investigations revealed that troops had commenced
invading the Sambisa Forest locations of the insurgents.
It was learnt that the soldiers started the invasion of the
Sambisa Forest in the early hours of Monday and had
been in pursuit of feeing insurgents.
A security source said that the military operation involved
massive deployment of Air Force personnel and platforms
and ground forces who were said to have dislodged the
insurgents from their location.
It was learnt that many of the insurgents had been
dislodged from their Sambisa strongholds into the
Michika, Madagali and Gulak and other areas of
Adamawa State.
It was said that the troops and forces from the
collaborating countries had been engaging the insurgents
in several fronts in the North-East.
Our correspondent contacted the Director, Defence
Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, on the telephone
for his comment on the ongoing invasion of Sambisa
Forest by troops, but he declined to speak on any specific
battle.
He said that the military was carrying out a lot of
operations in the area.
Chad’s military had four days ago captured the border
town of Gamboru from Boko Haram.
The capture of the town is the latest in a series of the
Chadian’s soldiers incursions into Nigerian territory as it
battles the Islamist insurgent group.
According to report, Chadian forces have also liberated
Baga, Dikwa, Malam Fatori, Damasak, Ngala and parts of
Bama in the past four days, Jubrin Gunda, a spokesman
for a Nigerian militia group, said.