Boko Haram: How Chadian President woke Buhari from slumber

Many Nigerians were full of praises for President Idriss Deby of Chad for living up to his title as Commander-in – Chief of the Chadian Armed Forces a few days ago when he led the onslaught against Boko Haram insurgents. After recording huge success in which over 100 Boko Haram insurgents were killed, Deby also issued a warning to the sect’s factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, asking him to surrender or risk being killed in his Dikoa hideout.

Following a seven-hour ambush on Chadian troops by the terrorists that left 92 soldiers dead recently, Deby, who said he would not accept defeat, launched “Operation Wrath of Bomo” to avenge the death of his men.

 Named after the town where the Chadian soldiers were killed, the operation, which commenced on Thursday, saw the president leading his armed forces to battle at Kelkoua bank and Magumeri where they fired rockets and 12.5mm rounds ammunition on the criminals. The troops were said to have also destroyed several Boko Haram troops bunkers, recovered cache of arms and arrested a top Boko Haram commander.

At Magumeri, a local government in the northern Borno State, the Chadian troops were alleged to have set free some Nigerian soldiers held captive by terrorists.

Deby’s action was in sharp contrast to the tactics employed by President Buhari in prosecuting the war against the insurgents. Though he started well when he assumed office in 2015 after directing Service Chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri, the theatre of war, Buhari’s war against insurgency in recent times seemed to have lost steam. Though the government will always say Boko Haram has been technically defeated, the sect has become more daring, carrying out deadly attacks on towns and villages in the North- East, with many military and civilian casualties.

The situation got so bad that when President Buhari visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in February to sympathise with the people over the killing of at least 30 persons by terrorists in the town of Auno, the insurgents visited the town and killed several people shortly after his departure.  (Daily Independent)