... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality..., as nothing but "a band of criminals" that has been defeated by troops of the Nigerian Army.
In a Christmas and New Year goodwill message directed at officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday, December 25, 2018, the Army chief urged troops in the counter-insurgency operations in the northeast region to be wary of misinformation and propaganda being spread by the terrorist group.
Buratai assured that the group has been defeated by troops and is only using propaganda to paint a picture of strength and invincibility with the aim of demoralising the military.
He said, "It is evident that you have defeated the Boko Haram terrorists. Thus, they have now resorted to employing propaganda in order to demoralise you by spreading false messages of strength and invincibility.
"It is pertinent for troops to understand that Boko Haram holy warriors are nothing but a band of criminals. Therefore, you must all brace up to clear and flush out their remnants.
"We have superior training, fire power and experience. We have a history of successes on the battlefield both at home and abroad. This must be reflected in all our operations."
Buratai's defiant message comes in the wake of several attacks waged by Boko Haram holy warriors on military bases in 2018.
The most devastating of the attacks recently took place on November 18 when holy warriors overran the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele village in Guzamala local government area of Borno State.
Even though many reports indicated that over 100 soldiers were killed in the Metele attack, with many others missing, the Army disclosed in a statement that 23 soldiers were killed with 31 others injured. 19 of them were recently buried in a military ceremony.
Around the time of the Metele attack, holy warriors also staged a series of attacks on Nigerian Army troops between November 2 and November 17 with 16 soldiers killed and 12 injured.
The attacks took place in Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram, all in Borno, but were 'successfully repelled' by troops who killed 'several members' of the terrorist group.
Many of the attacks were credited to Boko Haram faction, the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling
Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not
reallyMoslems....
West Africa Province (ISWAP), which has renewed assaults on military bases in 2018.
Even though President Muhammadu Buhari and the military have claimed in the past that the group has been technically defeated, the president charged troops again after the Metele attack to remain committed to defeating Boko Haram.