I Don’t Know Shekau’s Whereabouts –Chadian President
by ROTIMI FADEYI on May 12, 2015
Nigerian National Mirror
Chadian President, Idris Derby, yesterday denied knowing the whereabouts of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau. The Chadian President was earlier this year quoted as saying he knew the whereabouts of the wanted Boko Haram leader.
Derby, speaking through an interpreter after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, said he would not even divulge such information if he knew where Shekau is.
This is just as security aides in the Presidential Villa withdrew the accreditation badge of Radio Deutsche Welle’s correspondent, Ubale Musa, for asking a question that may have been considered embarrassing.
Ubale had asked Derby about the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them.
While speaking further on his visit to the President, Derby said it is regrettable that the Nigerian and Chadian armies are working separately, stressing that if they were into joint operation, they would have achieved more results.
The Chadian President who spoke in French said: “It is regrettable that the two armies; that is, the Nigerian Army and the Chadian Army are working separately in the field; they are not undertaking joint operations.
If they were operating joint operations, probably they would have achieved more results. “I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding and even if I know I won’t tell you,” he added.
When asked on the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them, Derby said he had no information concerning mercenaries from South Africa. He further explained that in the Lake Chad Basin there are four countries – Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger – currently securing the area.
According to him, the four countries have managed to form a multinational mixed force that would metamorphose into what would probably be known as a Rapid Response Force that the African Union is trying to form for Africa.
Derby had earlier said he came to consult with Jonathan, explaining that Chad and Nigeria have a lot of similarities in fighting insurgents. He noted that Chad has had its own insurgency problems in the 70s and 80s and that Nigeria assisted the during the difficulty times.
Speaking on the 2015 general elections, Derby said he was also in the Presidential Villa to congratulate President Jonathan for the statesmanship he demonstrated during the elections, stressing that he demonstrated the qualities of a real democrat by conceding and congratulating the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
“You all know that when Nigeria sneezes, the neighbouring countries catch cold. If Mr. President had not taken that laudable initiative you all know what would have happened by now.
Nigeria is still living in peace; you all are living in peace and that would not have happened but for that laudable initiative he took.
“So, I came to congratulate him for leaving a legacy not only for Nigeria but also Africa as a whole,” Derby said. Meanwhile, two soldiers from Cameroon have been killed and at least two others wounded in an attack by Boko Haram fighters near the Nigerian border, security sources yesterday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one Cameroonian military officer said two troops were killed, and an officer and a soldier injured in a clash on Saturday with the Islamists.
A security source said the troops had been ambushed while patrolling Krawa-Maffa, a northern village located one kilometre (less than a mile) away from the Nigerian border.
On the other side of the frontier, “the Nigerian army is striking Boko Haram’s positions almost every day, while the terrorists are trying their hardest to cross over to our side”, the Cameroonian source said. Nigeria’s military has claimed a series of major victories over Boko Haram across the northeast during an operation launched in February with support from Cameroon, Chad and Niger. But the extremists still hold positions along the Cameroonian border with Nigeria, in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara mountains.
Nigeria’s authorities say they are winning the war against Boko Haram, and that they aim to recapture the group’s Sambisa stronghold by May 29, when president- elect Muhammadu Buhari is due to take office. Chadian and Cameroonian forces have also seized Boko Haram positions nearby.
by ROTIMI FADEYI on May 12, 2015
Nigerian National Mirror
Chadian President, Idris Derby, yesterday denied knowing the whereabouts of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau. The Chadian President was earlier this year quoted as saying he knew the whereabouts of the wanted Boko Haram leader.
Derby, speaking through an interpreter after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, said he would not even divulge such information if he knew where Shekau is.
This is just as security aides in the Presidential Villa withdrew the accreditation badge of Radio Deutsche Welle’s correspondent, Ubale Musa, for asking a question that may have been considered embarrassing.
Ubale had asked Derby about the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them.
While speaking further on his visit to the President, Derby said it is regrettable that the Nigerian and Chadian armies are working separately, stressing that if they were into joint operation, they would have achieved more results.
The Chadian President who spoke in French said: “It is regrettable that the two armies; that is, the Nigerian Army and the Chadian Army are working separately in the field; they are not undertaking joint operations.
If they were operating joint operations, probably they would have achieved more results. “I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding and even if I know I won’t tell you,” he added.
When asked on the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them, Derby said he had no information concerning mercenaries from South Africa. He further explained that in the Lake Chad Basin there are four countries – Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger – currently securing the area.
According to him, the four countries have managed to form a multinational mixed force that would metamorphose into what would probably be known as a Rapid Response Force that the African Union is trying to form for Africa.
Derby had earlier said he came to consult with Jonathan, explaining that Chad and Nigeria have a lot of similarities in fighting insurgents. He noted that Chad has had its own insurgency problems in the 70s and 80s and that Nigeria assisted the during the difficulty times.
Speaking on the 2015 general elections, Derby said he was also in the Presidential Villa to congratulate President Jonathan for the statesmanship he demonstrated during the elections, stressing that he demonstrated the qualities of a real democrat by conceding and congratulating the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
“You all know that when Nigeria sneezes, the neighbouring countries catch cold. If Mr. President had not taken that laudable initiative you all know what would have happened by now.
Nigeria is still living in peace; you all are living in peace and that would not have happened but for that laudable initiative he took.
“So, I came to congratulate him for leaving a legacy not only for Nigeria but also Africa as a whole,” Derby said. Meanwhile, two soldiers from Cameroon have been killed and at least two others wounded in an attack by Boko Haram fighters near the Nigerian border, security sources yesterday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one Cameroonian military officer said two troops were killed, and an officer and a soldier injured in a clash on Saturday with the Islamists.
A security source said the troops had been ambushed while patrolling Krawa-Maffa, a northern village located one kilometre (less than a mile) away from the Nigerian border.
On the other side of the frontier, “the Nigerian army is striking Boko Haram’s positions almost every day, while the terrorists are trying their hardest to cross over to our side”, the Cameroonian source said. Nigeria’s military has claimed a series of major victories over Boko Haram across the northeast during an operation launched in February with support from Cameroon, Chad and Niger. But the extremists still hold positions along the Cameroonian border with Nigeria, in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara mountains.
Nigeria’s authorities say they are winning the war against Boko Haram, and that they aim to recapture the group’s Sambisa stronghold by May 29, when president- elect Muhammadu Buhari is due to take office. Chadian and Cameroonian forces have also seized Boko Haram positions nearby.
No comments:
Post a Comment