Shekau who is the factional leader of the terrorist group was not captured in the mop-up raid in the forest which took place on Friday, December 23.
Although the Boko Haram leader was spotted in a recent video claiming the dreaded group is still strong, the Nigerian Army has dismissed it as mere propaganda.
The Punch reports that a top military source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the terrorist group was “tremendously weakened and are trying to avoid confrontation … by hiding in some obscure locations.”
A member of the vigilante group involved in the fight against Boko Haram said: “They were sighted in large numbers in … the Kala-Balge area” which is closer to Cameron.
Abubakar Gamandi who is the head of the fishermen union in Borno state said some terrorists were regrouping around Lake Chad which is close to Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
“The islets are between one and two square kilometres and the fresh water and abundant fish in the lake make them habitable.”
Meanwhile, the French government sent message to its troop stationed in Africa to be prepared for a long war against terrorism in the region.
This is coming on the heels of an operation by Nigerian troops in Sambisa forest that led to the capture of Camp Zero which is the stronghold of the terrorists.
Among those arrested in the forest were 40 foreigners with some suspected to be French citizens following the arrest of one who is an expert in Amoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).
Vanguard reports that Bernard Cazeneuve who is the prime minister of France also promised Chad, where French troops have been stationed since 2014 under Operation Barkhane, his nation’s financial support.
“Our country must continue to make clear and ambitious budgetary decisions in support of our armies.”
“We must prepare for a long war in an environment that has undergone dramatic shifts,” Cazeneuve said.
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