Nigerian army dealing painful blows to Boko Haram

Ahmed Adel

As a terrorist organization, Boko Haram plays a pivotal role in influencing political and economic conditions in Nigeria, especially in the Lake Chad region.

This is so because the organization changes its strategies every now and then.

Targeting civilians

A Boko Haram cell attacked Kilanger Village in Askira Oba Local Government Area in Borno State.

The December 18 attack followed remarks by Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, earlier in the month.

According to multiple security sources, the cell attacked the village and targeted civilians, as the security situation in it continued to deteriorate.

Burning houses

According to official Nigerian press reports, Boko Haram attacked Kilanger Village with artillery and burned the house of its mayor, Haji Abdullah Adamu Kilangar.

The press also indicated that the houses of some citizens were destroyed, including that of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives who is also an influential merchant in the village.

Easy targets

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack only hours after the Nigerian president’s speech.

In his speech, President Buhari said his government had weakened Boko Haram.

He pointed out that the terrorists prey only on what he described as ‘easy targets’.

Like Buhari said, Boko Haram renews affirmations about its existence by striking soft targets.

The organization does this so that its members can flee and hide from Nigerian security forces that succeeded in dealing painful blows to the terrorist group in the past period.

Security forces also succeeded in killing a large number of Boko Haram terrorists in the same period.

Risks

For its part, the Nigerian army has repeatedly said that the terrorist organization has been largely defeated.

It added that Boko Haram underestimates its losses on many occasions.

Boko Haram also accuses the army of glossing over its losses in confrontations with it.

The group kills army troops by ambushing them in different areas.