Boko Haram Rocket Making Factory Photos Not Real,Military

Says terrorists are surrendering, starved of
funding
By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
The Nigerian military has debunked pictures
of the rocket-making factory being
displayed by the Boko Haram terrorists as
fake, saying the intention is to deceive
members of the public on the insurgents’
potency.
Some photographs purported to be sites of
the insurgents’ bomb-making factories in
the North-east region allegedly released by
Boko Haram were displayed on some online
platforms last week.
However, a top military chief has dismissed
the pictures as a propaganda strategy of “a
desperate and defeated terrorist group”,
saying that the unveiled photos of its
rocket-making factory, was that of Bama in
Borno State, which has long been destroyed
by the military.
The source insisted that “what the Boko
Haram is displaying with the images
allegedly being their rocket-making factory
is deceptive. What you should ask is why
didn’t they put it on video as they would
normally do?
“Secondly, they do not currently possess the
capacity to do such a thing because they
are cash-starved and have lost their safe
havens. I can tell you that this is an old
picture of their Bama factory, which was
destroyed a long time ago. These photos
are just part of their political and
psychological warfare to pretend as if they
have the capacity to do those kinds of
things”, the source added.
The source also noted that Boko Haram
terrorists are currently cash-starved, lacked
the manpower and as well as territory to
manufacture such rockets.
Investigations also revealed that the
expected flow of cash, resources and
intelligence from the Islamic State in Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) has been truncated by the
recent developments in the Middle East.
“The point is that right now, Boko Haram
lacks such capacity to manufacture the
rockets in display because the ISIS they are
depending on for cash are under immense
pressure from the American and Russians
bombardment in Syria and Iraq. So funding
right now is difficult for them,” the source
said.
Also, THISDAY findings further revealed that
there is massive desertion by Boko Haram
fighters, who are currently testifying and
identifying key members of the sect.
According to intelligence sources, the recent
display of 100 key Boko Haram figures, was
helped by the information supplied by the
surrendering terrorists.
One of the reliable sources stated: “I can tell
you authoritatively that what you are seeing
in terms of Improvised Explosive Devices
(IEDs) and the causing of panic within the
Metropolitan areas is that the enemy are
being dislodged from Sambisa forest. The
terrorists are in distress, and running up and
down without a safe haven. They are
surrendering in droves and the number of
the surrendering we have been having
recently made it clear that the people they
conscripted have all along been looking for
a way of escape.
“You know that Federal Government recently
launched ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ upon
which a lot of the terrorists have
surrendered with more coming out to lay
down their arms and we are still profiling
them. The Committee that the President set
up with the Defence Intelligence Agency
(DIA) and the three state governors of
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe is working
towards this goal.
“The next phase now is that we are
engaged in psychological operations; a lot
of leaflets are being dropped from the sky
over the Sambisa forest, which is giving the
terrorists a lot of hope that if they
surrender, they won’t be victimised. So we
have given them ‘Safe Corridor’ to surrender
and warning those that have failed to do so
that if at the expiration of this Amnesty,
they will be arrested,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS),
Lt-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, in
continuation of his operational visits to
formations and units particularly those
within the Area of Responsibility of
Operation Lafiya Dole, yesterday visited
troops of 21 Brigade at Bama, Borno State.
In his address to the troops, Buratai
reminded them of their mandate and
deadline to clear the pockets of Boko
Haram terrorists within their area of
responsibility before the end of December
which he strongly believes is possible
looking at their high spirit.
He recalled that “the gallant troops librated
Bama from the criminal Boko Haram
terrorists on 16 March 2015”, and urged
them to always be alert.
The highlight of the visit was on the spot
promotion and decoration of two soldiers of
the Brigade by the COAS for their gallantry,
dedication and loyalty from the rank of
Lance Corporal to Corporal, an event that
further lifted the morale of not only the
beneficiaries but the whole Brigade. The
elevated soldiers include Corporal Thomas
Orim of 202 Battalion and Corporal
Abubakar Usman of 150 Task Force
Battalion.
Buratai also visited other locations of the
Brigade at Konduga, Awulari and Kwanar
Banki on the fringes of Sambisa Forest
where he met troops in high spirit and
enjoined them to continue to do their best
in order to defeat the Boko Haram
terrorists.
Source:Nairaland